The TitanPower Plus SU 3.0 Flat Plate Collector combines the high efficiency construction of the smaller versions combined with the industry standard size of 4 x 8 ft. in addition to its high efficiency, the 3.0 collector is offered with a standard 12 year warranty and extended 20 year performance warranty.

Replace your existing projects with a higher performing and longer lasting flat plate collector that has guaranteed performance! The standard 4 x 8 ft collector size allows for easy integration into existing pre-engineered solar thermal projects. Save time and money on large scale commercial solar thermal projects.

The 3.0 series is designed for commercial applications and large scale process heating systems. Each collector utilizes the industry’s leading TiNOX copper absorber plate with 95% absorption efficiency. Its low profile stainless steel frame yields a 96% gross aperture to surface area ration, amongst the highest power density in the industry.

For additional information on the TitanPower Plus SU3.0 Flat Plate collector, please visit http://www.sunmaxxsolar.com/titan-power-plus-su2-flat-plate-solar-collector.php

SunMaxx Solar is an industry leader in the manufacture and distribution of turnkey solar thermal solutions for domestic hot water and space heating applications. For more information visit us online at www.sunmaxxsolar.com. You can also contact a solar thermal specialist at 1.877.876.6299.

* Due to the relocation of SunMaxx Solars manufacturing facility to a larger facility the availability of the 4X8 collectors has been delayed. Updates will be provided

*  Product will be made available for sale starting August 11th 2011.

Source: SunMaxx Solar

Photo credit: Timitrius

ral Development Dallas Tonsager made the announcement on behalf of the Secretary while attending the Pennsylvania meeting of the National Rural Electric Association (NRECA).

“The Obama Administration is committed to making America more energy efficient, and in doing so, more competitive by encouraging rural businesses build renewable energy systems,” said Tonsager.

The projects announced today will provide rural small businesses and agricultural producers the opportunity to conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy system installations. Eligible intermediaries, such as universities, will receive funds to conduct energy audits which will lead to energy savings and initiatives that will reduce energy consumption for years to come.

Tonsager said that Pennsylvania State University has been selected to receive a $99,676 grant to conduct a statewide initiative that offers technical assistance and workforce solutions through energy audits. Saint Francis University, also in Pennsylvania, was selected to receive $100,000 to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy consumption and cost through technical assistance provided by the university.

In Charleston, W. Va., the West Virginia Division of Energy has been selected to receive a $100,000 grant to complete 130 energy audits for rural small businesses to help them reduce energy usage and operating costs. Boise State University in Idaho was selected to receive a $100,000 grant to offer energy savings- information and energy audits to more than 1,500 manufacturing-related agricultural producers and small business in the state.

Arbre Farms Corporation in Walkerville, Mich., was selected to receive $7,000 to evaluate the feasibility of installing and operating an anaerobic digester that could produce and use biogas as a substitute for propane to power the farm’s boilers. “Last year, these same feasibility study funds provided through REAP assisted in a tremendous year of anaerobic digester development and are an important first step in a successful renewable energy project,” said Tonsager. “Construction is beginning on four USDA funded digester projects here in Pennsylvania and six digester projects next door in Ohio. These systems will provide additional farm income, contribute to better nutrient management, and produce clean, renewable electricity for thousands of homes in the community.”

Today’s announcement is in concert with an agreement signed by Secretary Vilsack in December, 2009. During climate change talks in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Secretary signed a historic agreement to help U.S. dairy producers cut greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement between USDA and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy calls for the parties to work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farms by 25 percent by 2020.

With today’s announcement, USDA is awarding more than $2.4 million in energy audits grants, Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants; and more than $1.2 million to support feasibility study projects.

Funding is made available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) under the 2008 Farm Bill. REAP loan guarantees and grants can be used for renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements, feasibility studies, renewable energy development assistance and energy audits. More information on the REAP program can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_ReapGrants.html Funding of each recipient is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions for the grant. The following is a complete list of award recipients announced today.

Feasibility Study Recipients by State

Colorado

Northern Colorado WindPower, LLC – $50,000

Hawaii

Frank A. Cipriani dba Biofarms Hawaii, LLC – $14,255

Tawn I. Kenney dba The Honoka’a People’s Theater – $1,041

Pacific Light and Power, Inc. – $35,338

Iowa

Plymouth Energy, LLC – $9,829

Idaho

Don W. Gilbert Hydro Power, LLC – $14,650

Elizabeth Olson – $1,600

Indiana

e-Biofuels, LLC – $3,149

Maine

Corinth Wood Pellets, LLC – $9,000

Maryland

Berrywine Plantations, Inc., dba Linganore Winecellars – $11,625

Michigan

Arbre Farms Corporation – $7,000

Lowell Light and Power – $30,000

Suburban Aviation, Inc. – $10,000

Minnesota

Little Rock Wind, LLC – $50,000

Norfolk Wind Energy, LLC – $50,000

Whirlwind Energy, LLC – $50,000

Nebraska

Growth Design Energy Nebraska, LLC – $10,000

New Jersey

Renu Energy Inc., – $50,000

North Dakota

Carrie Piper Cummer – $10,000

Oregon

Donald G. Averill – $27,500

Puerto Rico

Recast Energy, LLC – $9,575

Rhode Island

Global Imaging Holdings Realty, LLC – $50,000

Plain Lane Acres, LLC – $50,000

South Dakota

Blue Cloud Wind, LLC – $50,000

Dakota Wind Energy, LLC – $50,000

Flandreau Windfarm, LLC – $50,000

Northern Wind, LLC – $50,000

West Pipestone Creek, LLC – $50,000

Texas

Gulf Coast Wind, LLC – $31,296

Hall Brothers Partnership – $25,000

Midwest Renewable Energy, Inc., – $50,000

Mr. E. Green, Inc., – $31,938

Wind Miner, LLC – $29,114

Utah

K.C. Ranches, Inc. – $50,000

Ticaboo Electric Improvement District – $50,000

Vermont

Green Mountain Clean Energy, LLC – $50,000

Lemington Solar Farm, LLC – $15,000

Virginia

Burnshire Hydroelectric, LLC – $10,000

Washington

SKS Management, LLC – $43,750

Western Pacific

Ocean Thermal Energy Corporation – $50,000

Energy Audits and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Recipients by State

Alabama

University of Alabama – $97,500

Colorado

Colorado State University – $37,500

Delta-Montrose Electric Association – $97,325

Georgia

The University of Georgia –$100,000

Hawaii

Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; State Energy Office – $100,000

Idaho

Boise State University – $100,000

Indiana

Purdue University – $96,531

Iowa

Department of Natural Resources – $99,552

Department of Economic Development – $32,875

Kentucky

University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc. – $100,000

Maine

Greater Portland Council of Governments – $100,000

Efficiency Maine Trust – $100,000

Michigan

Michigan State University –$100,000

Minnesota

Regents of the University of Minnesota – $100,000

Nevada

Nevada System of Higher Education Desert Research Institute –$99,935

New Mexico

Regents of New Mexico State University/Institute for Energy and the Environment – $100,000

North Carolina

Land of Sky Regional Council – $99,825

North Carolina State University – $100,000

Oregon

Oregon Institute of Technology – $100,000

Oregon State University – $74,209

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania State University – $99,676

Saint Francis University – $100,000

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Resource Conservation and Development Area Council, Inc. – $50,000

Washington

Washington State Department of Commerce – $100,000

Washington State University – $100,000

West Virginia

West Virginia Division of Energy – $100,000

Wyoming

Office of Research, University of Wyoming –$60,000

Since taking office, the Obama administration has taken historic steps to improve the lives of rural Americans, put people back to work and build thriving economies in rural communities. From proposing the American Jobs Act to establishing the first-ever White House Rural Council – chaired by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack – the President wants the federal government to be the best possible partner for rural businesses and entrepreneurs creating job opportunities and for people who want to live, work, and raise their families in rural communities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $155 billion in affordable loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

Dated Post, but worth revisiting: Solar Industry

Despite the higher costs of Solar PV power generation, the net impact to the average Ontario household will be the equivalent of less than 1% of their electricity bills each year – less than the cost of one Tim Horton’s donut per month.

The stated rationale behind Ontario’s Green Energy and Economy Act and the associated Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) program was to stimulate job growth and local investment while phasing out the use of coal in energy production. While solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation can help to achieve these goals, it is currently more expensive than other forms of power generation. Given this cost differential, the question is whether investing in solar PV represents good value for Ontario ratepayers and taxpayers.

A recent study by ClearSky Advisors has found that if the OPA continues to award FIT contracts to solar generators at the current rate over the next 5 years, it would translate into more than 70,000 person-years of employment in Ontario. Using data from official sources (i.e., IESO, OPA, Statistics Canada), peer reviewed studies and other recognized sources, the ClearSky Advisors’ report is the first to provide a comprehensive analysis of the expected results from developing solar power in Ontario.

In the study, solar PV generation was found to produce 12 to 15 times the number of jobs created by non-renewable sources such as coal, natural gas, or nuclear. With approval rates trending toward 3,000MW of solar power capacity over the next 5 years, the increased costs from solar PV to the average Ontario household would amount to the equivalent of 0.7% of their electricity bills per year compared to other energy sources.

“When you consider the economic impacts of solar, it is clear that it creates far more jobs than any other energy source while also decreasing health and environmental costs. Solar energy does, however, cost more to ratepayers than the alternatives,” says Tim Wohlgemut, Co-Founder of ClearSky Advisors. “The question to Ontario households is whether the job creation, lessened environmental impact and reduced healthcare expenses are worth the additional costs to their electricity bill.”

Source: ClearSky Advisors

Solar thermal systems

Commercial energy audits are recommending solar thermal installations with increasing frequency. The reason is that solar thermal technologies are increasingly cost effective in heating and cooling (through use of chillers), and they can also produce electricity.

Truth be known, quite a few commercial energy auditors get pretty excited over solar thermal when they find a good opportunity to recommend it. Not only are these systems about as “green” as you can get . . . in just the right situations they can provide an impressive return on investment. Some other advantages include:

Advantages of Solar Thermal Systems

* Solar thermal energy is clean, effective and efficient.

* Using solar thermal energy to heat water (alone) can dramatically reduce your electricity bill. Add air conditioning and maybe electrical generation and the energy cost savings can be truly impressive.

* Solar thermal systems are available in a wide range of technologies and price points.

Large installations may require more expensive solar parabolic or solar trough reflectors. Small installations may utilize a less expensive rubberized collector mat.

* Some solar thermal equipment is approaching life cycles of 25 years and more.

* Solar thermal provides reliable power in locations that are from natural gas lines

and an electrical grid.

While most of today’s solar thermal systems serve homes, offices and industrial buildings, the technology necessary for building large solar thermal power plants is likely to be availabe in the very near future. That technology could replace a great many coal and oil-fired power plants.

Disadvantages of Solar Thermal Systems

* As is the case with solar photovoltaics, the economics of solar thermal are not yet perfect. High performance systems are expensive (and lower performance systems, while less expensive, are often of lower quality and not worth installing).

* There are a number of questionable products on the market (and less than knowledgeable contractors who are ready and willing to install them).

* As is the case with any solar system, most (but not all) solar thermal systems require a great deal of space.

The Bottom line on Solar Thermal

For now, the bottom line on solar thermal seems to be that, if a commercial energy audit indicates that it may be financially feasible, integrating solar thermal into your energy efficiency project is worth a hard look.

The Phoenix based energy audit team at Big Green Zero works with commercial building owners to reduces energy bills (often by 30% to 50%). The proprietary BGZ energy audit process is ASHRAE compliant and draws from extensive U.S. Dept. of Energy research.

Source: Big Green Zero

Ten panels of the Tri-Brid solar thermal collector system would collect enough energy to match about one third to one half the energy requirements per floor. Depending upon the number of floors, a roof space of 2400 square feet will typically have 25% of its space used for air conditioning and ventilation units, leaving 1800 square feet to accommodate solar collectors.

A paramount advantage of the Solar Collector system is that its energy storing efficiency is at its peak mid-day, when energy demands are at their highest. This allows the solar energy to be used to decrease peak power demands, thus securing a lower energy usage charge from the utility company.

Robert Matthews of Kalahari Greentech states, “One third of the energy load savings for ten floors is $1000/month or $100 per floor on average. This does not take into account that the building may be largely empty on the weekends, thereby allowing the solar equipment to collect and store thermal and electric energy for use during prime usage times. ROIs will only decrease in length with the rise in energy costs.”

More information can be found on the company’s website, www.kalaharigt.com.

About Kalahari Greentech, Inc.: Kalahari Greentech Inc. is an energy company focused on developing, constructing and operating wind and solar energy projects, either on its own or in partnership with other energy companies. The company’s main focus is to seek out opportunities to utilize its technology to develop renewable energy sources.

MNswan Technologies, a new alternative energy company, recently announced that it is ready to help homeowners lower their energy costs. The company offers instructional guides on affordable energy saving systems, such as the Simple Solar Water Heating System, which can make a home more energy efficient.

The new company, founded by Michael Swanson, developed a Simple Solar Water Heating System, an affordable, energy efficient water heater. The company provides instructional guides, and will be releasing new items in 2011. For more information, please visit http://www.mnswantech.com.

Michael Swanson created the Simple Solar Water Heating System after years of trying to lower his family’s energy bills. Using recycled materials and items purchased mainly from local hardware stores, Swanson, who is not a plumber by trade, built a domestic water heating system that is heated by the sun. The pre-heated water is returned to his hot water heater so the traditional system operates less often, using much less energy, resulting in big savings for the family budget.

The system comes down during the winter and goes back up in the spring. But in warmer climates, this water heating system can be used much longer, or even year-round.

“We’ve been pinching pennies, turning down the thermostat, weather-proofing… the stuff most people do. But I started looking at the cost to heat my hot water, and researched how I could cut my expenses,” said Swanson. “What I learned saves my family a lot of money. And it was simple and inexpensive to install.”

Several other energy saving projects are in the works and the instructional guides will be available in 2011. For more information on the company, please visit http://www.mnswantech.com.

In comparison to other microgeneration technologies, solar thermal heating is by far the most popular with over 140,000 unit installations in total to date in the UK, having been on the market for over 30 years. It is estimated that an average system will reduce CO2 by up to 0.75 tonnes depending on the fuel it is replacing.

Photovoltaics (PV) is also considered to be a market with significant potential because there are very few planning issues and, if costs were reduced, almost 4% of UK electricity could be supplied using this technology � in addition carbon emissions could be reduced by 3%. However, prior to Photovoltaics becoming a commercially viable product, significant government support and incentives will be required, combined with major cost reductions to improve investment paybacks.

Market estimates for solar thermal and PV are around 160,000 cumulative installations by 2009, with solar thermal dominant as illustrated in the chart above: Our estimates indicate that in 2009 there were annual sales of around 6,000 � 7,000 photovoltaic units and around 24,000 solar thermal units into residential, commercial and industrial applications. Solar thermal is dominant, reflecting lower costs and wider usage in domestic properties, while PV is more expensive to install.

Growth up to 2008 has been low in the UK compared to many other countries, due to a combination of factors including high investment costs, low payback returns, lack of incentives, low consumer awareness etc. However, this is now beginning to change, reflecting growing awareness of the need to increase usage of renewables at all levels, and a series of Government actions to meet renewables targets by 2020.

The intention of the government, through the Renewable Energy Strategy, is to introduce Feed-In-Tariffs (FIT) in 2011, although they have become effective from April 2010, as a means of increasing the market value of both renewable electricity and renewable heat. In addition, the Government has introduced PAYS (Pay as you Save), which will give households the opportunity to invest in energy efficiency measures such as solid wall insulation and microgeneration technologies in their homes with no upfront cost.

There are several forecasts ranging up to 4 million installations by 2020. By contrast, we have forecast the uptake to be about 30,000 in 2010, rising to 180,000 p.a. in 2015 and 300,000+ by 2020. However, the optimism of the DECC forecasts no doubt reflects the growth which has been achieved in other European countries in recent years as a result of the considerable financial incentives.

Without doubt, future growth will be heavily dependent on installation costs and/or grants and subsidies to encourage significant market acceptance, with many industry participants encouraged by recent interest levels, though the scale and areas of cutbacks in Government spending will become clearer in the Autumn Spending Review to be announced in October 2010.

source: AMA research

An extended product portfolio, continued investment into manufacturing facilities and new recruits to the Roth UK team have strengthened the company’s position in the solar thermal and multilayer pipe markets. Supported by nine manufacturing plants in Europe, and 1,100 employees worldwide, the UK company draws on the Roth group’s technical resources to support residential, commercial and industrial applications.

Mike Darvill, former Managing Director for Hydrotec and SOPHE Industrial Chairman, has successfully championed development of Roth UK with a strong in-house technical team.

The Roth range of ready-to-install thermal solar solutions includes standard installations and solar service water heating, through to complex installations designed to support heating systems. Coordinated solar collectors, roof installation kit, solar station, storage and control units are designed to provide optimal performance and can be used in combination with Roth’s heat distribution and drinking water systems.

Multilayer pipe and solar solutions The Roth portfolio also includes interchangeable multilayer polymer pipe and aluminium/polymer pipe ranges together with unique fittings systems based on plastic or brass which meet the needs of cold/hot water supply and heating/cooling pipework applications. Underfloor heating systems featured in the range are the Duopex S5, a multi-layer co-extruded polymer construction designed for the most demanding installations and X-Pert S5 which support the low temperature market. Roth’s extensive portfolio provides customers with the industry’s most comprehensive range of pipework solutions.

Roth selected for Hamworthy commercial solar solution

On the strength of product performance and expertise in the solar market, Roth UK has been selected by Hamworthy Heating to provide solar panels as a renewables option for commercial heating and hot water systems.

Hamworthy cite dedicated technical support, established R&D facilities and a track record providing solar thermal solutions as key reasons for the partnership with Roth. The Roth Heliostar 252 collector selected by Hamworthy Heating features a polycarbonate base that is robust yet lightweight and suitable for production on Roth’s newly installed fully automated production line for flat plate collectors.

Here’s a story with a sense of justice (albeit small) from a case of environmental wrongdoing: Shell Oil was sued two years ago for releasing millions of pounds of chemicals, including benzene and other toxins, from its Deer Park refinery in Texas into the air. It was violating the Clean Air Act—and of the million legal settlement that resulted, million is now helping two Texas schools go solar. Beautiful irony….Read the full story on TreeHugger

There are lots of options available to homeowners looking to make their houses healthier and more environmentally friendly. But for many people in the midst of a renovation, the choices can be overwhelming.

Kings County, in Washington state, has developed a useful tool—and fun web series—to help those planning or e…Read the full story on TreeHugger