Q-Cells sells Solibro

The insolvent German PV manufacturer Q-Cells is selling Solibro, its CIGS module manufacturing subsidiary, to Hanergy of Beijing.

This was announced by Q-Cells on June 5th. Solibro produces CIGS thin-film modules. According to Q-Cells, Hanergy plans to maintain the 430 jobs at Solibro and keep the existing management.

Operations and the Solibro customer service are also to be continued. After completion of this transaction, production in Thalheim will be increased to 100 MW per year “in order to serve Hanergy’s European customers”, it was announced.

In their company reports for 2011, Q-Cells quoted the Solibro capacity as 135 MW per year.

“This takeover is not only about strengthening our position on an international and competitive market. We would like to achieve synergies between the two companies in order to offer added value to our customers”, said Li Hejun, Chairman of Hanergy.

According to the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung (MZ), group CEO Nedim Chen initiated this sale at the end of 2011, i. e. before the insolvency. By selling Solibro, the Thalheim manufacturer is also selling 25 years of thin-film technology development. According to a spokesperson, the sale does not affect the insolvency proceedings, but provides liquidity to the company.

A sale price has not been revealed. By the end of 2012, Hanergy wants to build up 3 GW of PV production capacity, reports the MZ.

Solar powered Siberian Tiger camper unveiled by Tiger Adventures

Tiger Adventures a bespoke firm that turns normal everyday vehicles into campers, has just unveiled its latest discover.

Called the Siberian Tiger, named after the animal hailed to be the largest cat in the world, this camper uses the back of a Ford F450 and uses a three-point mounting system.

It is powered up by solar energy and it has also AMG batteries used to store the juice!

The camper has a stainless steel sink, three-burner recessed stove, convection microwave, refrigerator and freezer along with a porcelain toilet, full-length mirror, bamboo vanity, exhaust fan and separate shower area with a modified king bed to top it off.

The solar system is about 200 watt and it uses LED lighting indoors. The price is $163,000.

Russia launched the first industrial biogas plant

An industrial biogas plant was recently launched in the Belgorod Region in Central Russia.

The new station “Baytsury” is one of the first large scale industrial plants in Russia.

The station owned by the Regional Centre for Biotechnology, one of Russia’s largest companies, specializing in projects in the field of biogas energy.

It is located at a pig complex and is designed to process 38,690 m3 of organic waste and the production of 19,100 m3 of organic fertilizer.

The annual electric power output is estimated at 7.4 million kWh, while heat energy is 3,200 Gcal.

Now, in Russia, the potential of biogas production is estimated at 70 billion m3 per year.The southern regions of Russia have the biggest potential of biogas production and can produce 24.4 billion m³ of biogas from agricultural waste.

The Rostov Region and the Krasnodar Territory are among the most promising regions for the development of biogas technologies in Russia.

A floating luxury resort, powered by solar cells was conceptualized

A luxury floating hotel conception that would use low cost, dye sensitized solar cells it is for sure something innovative.

An italian designer named Michele Puzzolante has conceptualized his floating masterpiece with exclusive self sustaining capacity in terms of power.

This invention is a fusion of both a cruise ship and an underwater platform. Also allows passengers to see the wild marine life forms.

The Solar Floating Resort will have a 20m long deck with a myriad of spatial denominations. two double and two single bedrooms with their private bathrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, lounge area and bridge will be included.

This underwater platform can be used for exhilarating views into the deep mysteries of the ocean.Also a observation pod will be built into the hull of the craft.

The Solar Floating Resort will be constructed from dual layers of fiberglass reinforced balsa wood.

Energy-efficient LED lighting used for Tower Bridge decorations

As the Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee, a team of electricians and   lighting-designers decided to commemorate the memorable day.

They set he iconic Tower Bridge in London aglow, in a green and responsible fashion that has left us awe-struck.

The team used ,500 feet of energy-efficient LED linear lights, 1,800 LED lamps, 1,000 junction boxes and 16,500 feet of cable GE. So they managed to give the Tower Bridge a glittering diamond-like appearance in night.

The Tower Bridge will continue to gleam through the weekend as celebrations continue and will be adorned for the 2012 Olympic Games.

This lighting system used for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee uses 40% less energy than traditional lighting used earlier for similar occasions.

Solar energy project in Arizona

Kyocera,a Japanese multinational company is going to shipp solar panels for the 127MW Arlington Valley Solar energy II power project.

Till the year 2013, the company will continue to manufacture PV panels at its San Diego plant.

It isn’t for sure if Kyocera will be the only one supplier of PVs because no details of the deal have been released as yet.

The Arlington solar energy project, located in Maricopa County, sits on an area of 1,160 acres and will supplement the energy needs of residents and businesses alike.

With Europe deeply involved in renewables, countries across the globe are gearing up to establish wind farms and solar parks to meet power requirements.

Kyocera has begun shipping 34MW of modules and will continue to provide more in future.Earlier, the corporation had announced that it wanted to increase  multicrystalline PV production to 1,000MW every year by March 2013.

The solar project received funding to construct the $550 million plant. The energy power that’s generated from the project will be sold off to San Diego Gas & Electric.

Endesa Pavilion is adapted to maximum renewable energy potential

Solar House 2.0, is a rare structure that adopts to maximize the renewable energy potential of its location.

Made by the Institute of Advanced Architecture for Catalonia (Iaac), it has a modular facade covered with protrusions that support additional solar panels.

Protrusions are designed to creatively maximize the use of energy, also they absorb the sun’s energy independent of the seasons.

The building is capable of generating almost 100kWh of electricity and its average daily consumption stands at 20kWh.The roof alone features 150sq m of photo voltics.

During summers, the protrusions form a barrier when the sun tracks higher across the sky, whereas during winters it allows the sun’s rays to directly penetrate.

The house has been constructed from wood due to the fact that wood is an inexhaustible material that is soft and easy to work with and also it can be molded and adapted to provide warmth and insulation.This building looks more like a huge log cabin, suitable to belong to the Scandinavian woodland.

Underwater turbine tested to harness tidal power in Scotland

Scottish Power Renewables (SPR) has conducted a test on an immersed turbine which can be utilized to harness tidal power to produce electricity.

The test has successfully completed in northern isles of Orkney,in the island of Eday. The turbine known as Hammerfest Strom HS1000, is already a source of electricity for many homes and businesses on Eday.

Hammerfest can be monitored underwater, with help of engineers based out of the European Marine Energy Center.

This HS1000 comes with integrated blades that spin in the direction and flow of tides which helps generate power.The structure of Hammerfest has been inspired from a tri-pod.

Scotland is exploiting all modes of clean energy which will help in generating electricity and reducing their carbon footprint share.

Nevada benefits from first hybrid solar geothermal power plant

When it comes to the benefits of renewable sources of energy like solar energy, wind energy and more, many companies are focusing on developing products and mechanisms that help tap these forms of energy.

Nevada’s Stillwater geothermal plan is one such example.This world’s first hybrid Solar-Geothermal plant is great option for all the eco-friendly construction companies.

The capacity is about 59 MW of clean energy and is capable of fueling more than 50,000 homes.Both solar and geothermal forms of energy complement each other as both these sources of clean energy are available in abundance.

By installing this Hybrid Solar Geothermal power plant, Nevada can ease the gaps of solar energy and also utilize both sources of power.

The carbon footprint of Nevada will be reduced and also the greenhouse gas emissions from the region.

The Department of Energy has given this hybrid project tax support $40 million through the Recovery Act.

Tis project is one of the fourteen geothermal sites in the Nevada. It will also help in accelerating geothermal power development.

Innovative wind prospecting system power plant discovered by University of Barcelona

University of Barcelona has discovered an innovative wind prospecting system.

It is specially designed for marine environments and it is based on a hot air balloon that has a module with the meteorological sensors.The sensors help keep track of the magnitude and strength of the wind.

Andriy Lyasota, a Russian aeronautical engineer developed the concept.The balloon can withstand wind speed of 150km/h, thanks to its design and it rises to a height of 150 meters with the help of a cable that hold 600 kilos.

We strongly believe that wind energy will mainly be developed for marine environments in the future.

The system of a floating balloon proposed will significantly reduce costs, thus it become the more particle choice for tomorrow.