Micro Generation

Microgeneration equipment without planning permission

Feb 12th, 2009 | By ashleys | Category: Micro Generation, News, Solar Power

eGov Monitor reports that householders will be soon be able to install some of their their own energy generating equipment, including solar panels, without planning permission following a Scottish Government consultation on planning reforms aimed at increasing renewable energy generation and cutting emissions.
Technorati Tags: Solar wind, solar power, microgeneration



US pioneers use solar and wind micro generation to live off grid

May 27th, 2008 | By ashleys | Category: Micro Generation, News, Off-Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

Reuters have a big report on how US architect Todd Bogatay and his neighbours are using solar and wind micro generation to live “off grid”, and making very little in the way of sacrifices to do it.
“People used to be attracted to living off-grid for largely environmental reasons, although that is now changing as energy [...]



Swansea scientists work on solar power paint

May 25th, 2008 | By ashleys | Category: Future Technology, Micro Generation, News, Solar Power

Just a quick pointer to a fairly recent news item on the New Scientist about a group of scientists at Swansea University who are developing a way to paint solar cells on to the steel sheets that are usually used to clad large buildings.
Very interesting stuff!
Technorati Tags: Solar-power



Barratt building with micro-generation built in

May 19th, 2008 | By ashleys | Category: Micro Generation, News, Solar Power, Wind Power

Barratt’s latest development of three towers in London’s docklands is called the Elektron, (corny name or what). Each tower has been fitted with a wind turbine and PV solar panel array. The development also has a low carbon emission communal heating system.
Given that the whole housing market appears to be going south rapidly though [...]



Google to spend big on green fuel

Dec 9th, 2007 | By ashleys | Category: General, Micro Generation, News, Solar Power, Wind Power

The search engine giant Google has announced that it is going to look at ways to develop cheap and clean sources of energy, and that it would invest hundreds of millions of dollars to do so. Their focus will initially be on solar thermal, wind and geothermal technologies. Larry page co-founder of google stated;
“We have [...]



Build yourself a Solar Heater

Nov 22nd, 2007 | By ashleys | Category: Micro Generation, Solar Power

Lifehacker.com have posted a nice video demonstration on how to build a cheap, less than $10 is the claim, solar heater out of foam board, black paint and various other materials than can be collected together cheaply. According to the video, once you have built it, you can put it by the window and increase [...]



Green Home Service

Nov 20th, 2007 | By ashleys | Category: General, Micro Generation, News, Solar Power

The UK Environment secretary, Hilary Benn has launched plans for a one stop shop service for greener homes. Alison Benjamin over at the Guardian Unlimited takes a looks at what the Green Home Service will offer. This is done in a FAQ format which also seems to include non related general questions such as;
“How much [...]



New business model for solar energy

Sep 22nd, 2006 | By ashleys | Category: Micro Generation, Solar Power

A US company in the states has come up with a new business model for deploying solar PV arrays. The company Maryland based SunEdison will actually own, finance and operate any help fund the installation of a facility. SunEdison own the installation for a number of years, and is reimbursed for the solar energy [...]



A true Solar Wind approach!

Aug 20th, 2006 | By ashleys | Category: Micro Generation, Solar Power, Wind Power

Now here is a project that will truly get solar wind working. A new project has begun in the Australian outback to build a huge tower that will capture the sun’s energy in a far more efficient way than conventional solar cells or windmills.
Now we normally separate solar and wind energy into two different things, [...]



WiFi powered by solar energy

Aug 9th, 2006 | By ashleys | Category: Micro Generation, Solar Power

I have just posted on my other blog about a nice use of solar power to bring internet access to three schools in India via a WiFi mesh. The nodes of the WiFi mesh are powered by solar panel with battery storage.  The work is being done by an interesting California based WiFi company called [...]