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This floating UFO home is powered by solar, wind and water

The UFO floating home concept from mini yacht-maker Jet Capsule offers a completely off-grid existence. Image source.

Known for its exquisite cuisine, prominent fashion scene, and storied football clubs, Italy will soon have the ability to add yet another notable notch to its esteemed culture belt: manufacturer of UFOs. Also known as Unidentified Floating Objects, the UFOs coming to Italian shores in the near future aren’t exactly alien but rather an innovative solution for fighting the high costs of rent and the impending rise of the world’s sea levels.

According to Digital Trends, artistically designed by the Italy-based company Jet Capsule, the floating concept is a small autonomous vessel that’s essentially a studio apartment on water. If you get seasick easy, we don’t recommend hopping on board to invest.

Structurally, Jet Capsule’s UFOs measure just over 40 feet in diameter, with much of the vessel’s surface area taken up by a circular ring surrounding the living quarters. As seen in image renderings released by the Italian company, the outer ring could feasibly be used as a track for riding a bike, walking your dog or simply catching some rays. The mock-ups also show bits of grassy areas in sections surrounding the ring that appear to facilitate vegetable gardens and various trees.

Once inside the capsule, each floating home contains two moderately sized livable areas. The upstairs houses the concept’s kitchen area, outfitted with a table and small seating area, as well as an access point to a short staircase leading to the bottom floor. Aside from a large window giving owners a front row seat for some gorgeous underwater viewing, the downstairs quarters also house a small bathroom and bedroom. If the renderings are indicative of a final product, privacy for those in the shower is extremely limited, though, only passing fish (or the occasional scuba diver) would actually be able to see inside.

Aside from a large window giving owners a front row seat for some gorgeous underwater viewing, the downstairs quarters also house a small bathroom and bedroom. If the renderings are indicative of a final product, privacy for those in the shower is extremely limited, though, only passing fish (or the occasional scuba diver) would actually be able to see inside.

Jet Capsule’s livable UFOs are also designed to utilize the surrounding environment to produce and store energy. For instance, the company intends to install wind and water turbines to generate power while also installing solar panels on the vessel to harness solar energy. If the vessel takes in more energy than it uses, the excess is simply sent to an internal battery fitted in the base of the UFO. Owners will also have the ability to control an electric anchor from inside the ship, which is used to keep the UFO in one position. While changing locations, the vessel has the ability to travel at speeds of up to 3.5 miles per hour — not exactly a blistering pace.

If the vessel takes in more energy than it uses, the excess is simply sent to an internal battery fitted in the base of the UFO. Owners will also have the ability to control an electric anchor from inside the ship, which is used to keep the UFO in one position. While changing locations, the vessel has the ability to travel at speeds of up to 3.5 miles per hour — not exactly a blistering pace.

As of now, Jet Capsule is currently seeking investors to help it develop the first working prototypes of its aquatic UFO. Like any concept, however, the likelihood of these vessels seeing the light of day remains scarce., but if rent prices continue to skyrocket (and water levels continue to rise), living in an aquatic house might not be all that strange.

This power station can harvest kinetic wave energy and turn it into electricity

Wavestar, 4 years of continuous operation in the North Sea. Image source.

The Wavestar machine draws energy from wave power with floats that rise and fall with the up and down motion of waves. The floats are attached by arms to a platform that stands on legs secured to the sea floor. The motion of the floats is transferred via hydraulics into the rotation of a generator, producing electricity.

According to wavestarenergy.com, waves run the length of the machine, lifting 20 floats in turn. Powering the motor and generator in this way enables continuous energy production and a smooth output. This is a radical new standard and a unique concept in wave energy; it’s one of the few ways to convert fluctuating wave power into the high-speed rotation necessary to generate electricity.

“Environmental and climate issues, as well as uncertainty about energy supply, demand that we diversify our energy supply to multiple renewable and clean sources. With enough space for wave energy machines but little exploitation thus far, Wavestar is not just developing a wave power device, but energizing a whole movement.

Energy production with wave energy is more predictable than wind because waves come and go slowly and can be forecast 24 hours ahead. The Wavestar machine could also be installed together with a wind turbine which would further increase efficiency and reduce set-up costs. Wavestar understand that we need many renewable energy solutions, not just one, so it makes sense to harness the power of waves”, the team said.

Unique sea survivability

Survivability at sea is a big problem for wave energy devices. But unlike any other wave energy concept, the Wavestar’s sea survivability is guaranteed, and the concept has been proved during many years of continuous operation at sea. It can continue production in strong wind and waves, and automatically raises the floats out of the sea when the conditions become too stormy.

Award winning design

The Wavestar machine’s efficiency is being continually increased. The design was recently modified to reduce the cost by 40 per cent, while energy harvesting capacity and other aspects of the machine are being constantly improved for better efficiency. The Wavestar machine is less visible and quieter than wind turbines, and it also has a positive impact on wildlife below the machine, creating a sanctuary enhanced by the limits on nearby fishing.

The aesthetic profile of the machine won the prestigious Biennale Prize at the Biennial of Crafts and Design in 2009. The machine was nominated for the “highly original and striking sculptural design of a wave power machine, which in one single image symbolizes and clarifies the huge potential of this renewable energy resource … the wave power machine constitutes a beautiful counterpart to the clear form expression of the modern windmill.”

With the 500 kW machine in development, the company has claimed a position among the leading alternative energy developers in the world. Wave Star aim to make it the first series-produced 1 MW machine for big oceans, ready for sale in 2017. Wave Star is not stopping there though. The machine will then be doubled in size, capable of handling twice the wave height. This will increase each machine’s output to 6 MW, enabling a single machine to provide energy for 4,000 homes.

More info and details below:

This 18-Rotor helicopter runs entirely on electricity

The Volocopter uses 18 rotors, which its inventors say make it ‘safer simpler and cleaner’ that current designs. Image source.

Developed by the German company e-volo, the Volocopter VC200, a 18-rotor rotor electric helicopter (aka multicopter) completed its first official manned test flight without a hitch, and documented the whole thing on camera. The video shows the managing director Alexander Zosel of the company of E-Volo piloting the maiden manned emission-free aircraft over an airfield in southern Germany.

According to TechWorm, e-volo’s Volocopter is built from fiber composite material with a 450 kg (992 lb) take-off weight, and nine individual batteries power the all-electric motors and 18 rotors to make for a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph).

Best described as a drone-helicopter hybrid, the Volocopter has two seats available on it, while it runs on an electric engine with precision control being manned by a single joystick that is accompanied by a handful of buttons. Despite its complex shape and strange appearance, the Volocopter is designed to bring personal flight to the masses by being easy to fly.

“It is definitely a sublime feeling to lift off, fly the first few meters, and then actually take my hand off the joystick and think that, yeah, it’s really as if I’m standing on the ground, and then I look down and there are 20-25 meters beneath me,” Zosel said. “So it’s definitely unbelievable what we’ve achieved here. It’s seriously unbelievable!”

e-volo has tested its design with over 100 unmanned flights, but now that a human has actually piloted one, it’s on to a whole new round of testing. e-volo’s first test flight program saw the Volocopter hit speeds of 25 km/h (15 mph) at only low altitudes. The second phase will test the aircraft at speeds of 50 km/h and a medium altitude, with the final phase to raise that to higher altitudes and its top speed of 100 km/h.

If things continue to happen as planned by e-volo, the company has ambitions to produce the Volocopter in “large quantities” for the air sports market. It’s also looking at the possibility of air taxi services initially for “predetermined routes as airport shuttles or at sensible traffic nodes such as bridges.”

It may be a while before we see drone-helicopter hybrids like the Volocopter hovering overhead, but if it does happen, e-volo is keen to lead the way.

Watch Zosel take-off in the Volocopter in the video below:

Global renewable energy generation capacity up by 152GW

Global renewable energy capacity soared In 2015. Image source.

The renewable energy generation capacity increased by 152 gigawatts (GW), which is equivalent to 8.3% last year, the highest annual growth rate on record, according to new data released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

According to utilities-me.com, the Renewable Capacity Statistics 2016 found that as of the end of 2015, 1,985 GW of renewable generation capacity existed globally.

Adnan Z Amin, Irena director-general, said: “Renewable energy deployment continues to surge in markets around the globe, even in an era of low oil and gas prices. Falling costs for renewable energy technologies, and a host of economic, social and environmental drivers are favoring renewables over conventional power sources.

“This impressive growth, coupled with a record $286 billion invested in renewables in 2015, sends a strong signal to investors and policymakers that renewable energy is now the preferred option for new power generation capacity around the world.”

It was a record year for both wind and solar due in large part to a continued decline in technology costs.

Meanwhile, wind power grew 63 GW (17 per cent) driven by declines in onshore turbine prices of up to 45 per cent since 2010.

Solar capacity increased 47 GW (37 per cent) owing to price drops of up to 80 per cent for solar photovoltaic modules in the same time period.

Hydropower capacity increased by 35 GW (three per cent) while both bioenergy and geothermal energy capacity increased five per cent each (5 GW and 1 GW respectively).

Overall, capacity has increased by roughly one-third over the last five years, with most of this growth coming from new installations of wind and solar energy.

In terms of regional distribution, the fastest growth in renewable generation capacity came in developing countries.

“The significant growth rates for renewable generation capacity in developing economies are a testament to the strong business case for renewable energy,” said Amin.

“Renewables are not just a solution for industrialized countries, they are also powering economic growth in the fastest growing economies in the developing world.”

At the end of the year, hydropower accounted for the largest share of the global total renewable power generation capacity with an installed capacity of 1,209 GW, the majority of which are large-scale plants.

Wind and solar energy accounted for most of the remainder, with an installed capacity of 432 GW and 227 GW respectively. Other renewables included 104 GW of bioenergy, 13 GW of geothermal energy and about 500 MW of marine energy (tide, wave and ocean), he added.

Scotland generated more than half its electricity from renewables last year

Whitelee Wind Farm, Scotland. Image source.

Scotland has reached an ambitious renewable energy milestone by generating 57.7 percent of its gross electricity consumption. It also made up about 26 percent of total UK renewable generation last year.

According to Ars Technica UK, the government’s department of energy and climate change has released provisional numbers of renewable energy generation in 2015, which revealed that renewable electricity generated in Scotland last year totalled 21,983 GWh, with around 64 percent of that figure coming from wind turbines, and another 27 percent from hydro generators. Both sources showed a year-to-year increase in generation—of 21 percent and 7 percent, respectively.

Scotland now appears to be on track to fulfil its 2020 goal of having all of the country’s electricity consumption supplied by renewables. However, plans for the next four years might prove more difficult, given the significant cuts in renewable energy subsidies announced by the UK government in late 2015.

Scottish clean energy campaigners are predictably unhappy and have attacked UK prime minister David Cameron about the reductions to renewable energy subsidies.

“This is great news and an important step in creating a fossil-free Scotland,” said Dr. Richard Dixon, Friends of the Earth Scotland director. “Despite the UK government’s ideological assault on renewable energy Scotland is storming ahead, smashing through our 50 percent target for 2015. Well done to all those in this vital industry who have helped produced a big increase from the 2014 figures.”

“Clean, green energy is essential in the fight against climate change, and Scotland needs to continue to be a champion of renewables while David Cameron continues to chase the nuclear dream in England.”

New world record set in renewable energy investments

Record renewable energy investment in 2015. Image source.

All investments in renewables, including early-stage technology and R&D (Research and Development) as well as spending on new capacity, totalled $286 billion in 2015, some 3 per cent higher than the previous record in 2011, said the 10th edition of United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) annual report — Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2016.

According to Gulf News, a total of 134 gigawatts (GW) of renewable power was added worldwide in 2015 compared to 106GW in 2014 and 87GW in 2013, the report said.

It highlighted that the green investments had broadened out to a wider and wider array of developing countries, helped by sharply reduced costs and by the benefits of local power production over-reliance on imported commodities.

“Renewables are becoming ever more central to our low-carbon lifestyles, and the record-setting investments in 2015 are further proof of this trend. Importantly, for the first time in 2015, renewables in investments were higher in developing countries than developed,” said Achim Steiner, executive director at UNEP, in an official statement.

In 2015, for the first time, investments in renewable energy in developing and emerging economy nations ($156 billion, up 19 per cent compared to 2014) surpassed those in developed countries ($130 billion, down eight per cent from 2014).

Much of these record-breaking developing world investments took place in China (up 17 per cent to $102.9 billion, or 36 per cent of the world total).

Other developing countries showing increased investment included India (up 22 per cent to $10.2 billion), South Africa (up 329 per cent to $4.5 billion), Mexico (up 105 per cent to $4 billion) and Chile (up 151 per cent to $3.4 billion).

Among developed countries, investment in Europe was down 21 per cent, from $62 billion in 2014 to $48.8 billion in 2015, the continent’s lowest figure for nine years despite record investments in offshore wind projects.

Investments in the US were up by 19 per cent to $44.1 billion, and in Japan investment was much the same as the previous year at $36.2 billion.

The report was launched by the Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate & amp; Sustainable Energy Finance and Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF).

An entire airport pays nothing for electricity thanks to solar panels

Kochi, world’s first fully solar operated airport. Image source.

Day by day, solar power is becoming a more viable source of energy for homes and businesses. If you need further proof of this, look no further than the Cochin International Airport in India that is now entirely powered by solar energy and pays nothing for electricity.

The airport last year installed a solar power system with a 12-megawatt peak (MWp) capacity that added to its previous installation that had a capacity of 1.1 MWp, thus giving it enough solar energy to run the entire airport.

According to Yahoo! Tech, the whole project cost roughly USD$ 9.3 million and it was built on a 45-acre piece of unused land near the airport. While the airport obviously can’t rely on solar power to meet all its needs at night, it doesn’t pay anything for electricity because during the day its 46,000 solar panels push all excess power back onto the grid.

The airport estimates it will take under six years for it to recoup its initial investment costs from the project. It also announced plans to double its solar generation capacity in the coming years to 26.50 MWp.

Whether this sort of installation can serve as a model for other airports, of course, is open to debate. Cochin International Airport is only the seventh busiest in India and it was also fortunate to have 45 acres of unused land nearby that it could use for solar power. Major airports in the United States would likely need to have even more open land available to generate the necessary power to keep them running at all times.

Nonetheless, this is a really amazing accomplishment that shows just how much potential solar power offers to both reduce carbon emissions and deliver energy.

Europe’s largest floating solar plant to open in London

Thames Water and Lightsource Renewable Energy have nearly completed Europe’s largest floating solar plant, built on top of Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir in London. PHOTO: Lightsource

Lightsource’s 6.3 megawatt project will become biggest floating array outside of land-strapped Japan

England may be known for its dreary weather and oft-overcast skies, but that hasn’t deterred a group of businesses from wading forward with a solar energy project that will see Europe’s largest floating solar array installed on Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir in Greater London near Walton-on-Thames.

According to Cleantech Canada, Lightsource Renewable Energy and Thames Water expect to complete work on the 23,000-panel project later this month. With a nameplate capacity of 6.3 megawatts, the project remains relatively small when compared to larger land-based solar farms, but is large enough to snatch the title of largest marine solar plant in Europe.

“Becoming a more sustainable business is integral to our long term strategy and this innovative new project brings us one step closer to achieving our goal—this is the right thing for our customers, the right thing for our stakeholders and most importantly the right thing for the environment,” Angus Berry, energy manager for utility firm, Thames Water, said when the project began.

Power from the renewable project will help power Thames Water’s nearby water treatment works, contributing to the utility’s goal of self-generating one-third of its energy by 2020.

Responsible for constructing and operating the plant, solar energy firm, Lightsource, expects to connect the array to the grid by the end of the month. Designers will keep the plant’s panels above water using a platform consisting of 61,000 floats and 177 anchors. The solar installation will cover about one-tenth of the reservoir—the equivalent of about eight football pitches.

As in many urban centres, land is at a premium in London, and the floating plant takes advantage of an area that would normally be off-limits to developers.

Japan is another country actively pursuing marine solar to boost renewable generation without impacting residents. Electronics conglomerate Kyocera Corp. recently broke ground on the world’s largest solar plant outside Tokyo. With a 13.7 MW capacity, the project can pump out more than twice the power of the Thames project.

European solar market grows 15% in 2015

Nottingham, UK: A panoramic picture shows the changing face of an estate after 600 homes had solar panels fitted. Image source.

In 2015, European countries connected around 8 GW of solar power systems to electrical networks, according to estimates by SolarPower Europe.

According to Renewable Energy Focus, demand for solar power systems in European countries increased by around 15% year-on-year, compared to 6.95 GW of new grid-connected solar power capacity in 2014.

“It is good to see the European solar power sector again on the growth path in 2015,” says James Watson, CEO of SolarPower Europe. Peaking in 2011, demand for solar power installations in Europe declined for 3 consecutive years.

Europe’s solar growth in 2015, however, is primarily based on the strong UK market, demand for solar systems in most other countries stayed flat or declined. Watson added, “Solar needs clear signals from policy makers in Europe to be able to contribute to achieving the climate goals agreed in Paris. With solar being competitive for residential and commercial applications in most European countries today, investors need a secure political framework for generation, self-consumption and storage of solar energy.”

The company’s findings show that annual global grid-connected solar rose by over 25% to more than 50 GW in 2015, from 40.1 GW in 2014.

Final numbers for 2015 will be presented in a new report in March. Estimates for 2016, including market forecasts until 2020, will be published in SolarPower Europe’s ‘Global Market Outlook For Solar Power 2016 – 2020,’ which will be launched at Intersolar Europe in June.

The world installed 59 GW of solar PV capacity in 2015

GTM: Global solar added 59 GW in 2015. Image source.

The world added 59 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity last year for a 34% growth compared to 2014, preliminary figures from GTM Research showed.

According to See News Renewables, in 2016, global installations are expected to be 64 GW, bringing the world’s cumulative installed PV capacity to 321 GW.

“The fourth quarter of 2015 showed that global PV demand is very much at the mercy of government support, which can often be unpredictable and idiosyncratic, leading to often negative but sometimes positive outcomes,” said GTM Research senior solar analyst Mohit Anand.

After the US extended the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) in December, its share of expected global PV demand between 2015 and 2020 has increased from an average of 10% to 15%, even as substantial growth in demand is projected for the Asia-Pacific region (apart from China) this year and beyond.

Japan, the UK and China have on the other hand pulled back feed-in tariff (FiT) support, which has reduced expectations.

Global installations in 2016 are expected to be led by the US and China. According GTM Research, emerging markets will play a key role as India will become a reliable multi-gigawatt market this year, while Brazil and Mexico will have their ambitions tested against actual project execution. A number of other markets in Asia and Latin America like the Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Uruguay, Guatemala and Panama will make progress and try to break through to 100 MW.