Month: November 2012

Renault has the automotive world’s biggest solar-powered vehicle canopy

French automaker Renault has come up with a fabulously green way to shelter the cars that roll out of its assembly lines.

The company has recently installed a canopy soaked through with solar panels that has been termed as “the world’s largest photovoltaic system in the auto industry”.

The canopy generates green energy and also shelters the company’s cars beneath. Six of Renault’s production sites including Douai, Maubeuge, Flins, Batilly, Sandouville and Cléon will make use of these systems covering 40 hectares or 400,000 square meters in all.

Capable of generating 52,600 MWh of electricity a year and reducing Co2 emissions by 200-tons annually, these solar panels will prove to be a boon for Renault, helping the automaker substantially reduce its carbon footprint in France.

The world’s first country powered completely by the sun

Nestled in the South Pacific lies a paradise-on-earth, called Tokelau. In essence a group of islands, this beautiful country has now been crowned as the world’s first nation to go 100% solar-powered!

Using a one megawatt array spread across three atolls, Tokelau is capable of powering 1,400 residents’ lives with renewable energy, generating enough power to satisfy 150% of their electricity needs!

Using 4,032 solar panels and 1,344 batteries, the system was installed by New Zealand-based PowerSmart for a price of £4.7 million. The country also generates energy by burning coconut oil in case of cloudy days or emergencies.

The system has helped the country reduce its carbon emissions by nearly 950 tonnes a year, turning Tokelau into an ideal example for the rest of the world.

Samsung opens Korea’s first offshore wind farm

Samsung has been leading the world of technology and has turned into one of the world’s largest consumer electronics giants lately.

The Samsung Heavy Industries has now moved towards the greener horizon and has announced plans for an 84-megawatt offshore wind farm. This will be Korea’s first and will be built jointly with Korea Southern Power Co in Jeju Island.

To be built with a depth of about 30 meters and 2 kilometers away from the coast of Daejeong-eup in Seoguipo in Jeju Island, Samsung plans to have this one up and running by 2015. The wind farm will generate enough energy to power up 100,000 households with clean and green juice.

The world’s largest wind farm, London Array

The world’s largest wind-farm, the London Array has finally begun generating energy.

Located in the Thames Estuary, the project will be worth 630 MW when completed. Currently, just 15 of the total 175 turbines have been installed, with the rest being set up.

The remaining turbines are expected to be constructed by the end of this year.

Once completed entirely, the London Array will generate enough juice to power nearly 470,000 UK homes. And this is just the first phase.

The second phase of the project will increase the capacity to 870 MW, slightly off the previously planned 1 GW capacity.