Category: solar panels

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Urgency in the transition to renewable energy

In 2019, after an open adjudicative process with broad citizen participation, the Energy Bureau approved the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). This public policy document has the force of law and obligates the government to an orderly process of transition to renewable energy sources.

When the IRP was being evaluated, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority recognized that units 7 through 10 in San Juan would require economically unfeasible capital investments in order to be in compliance with environmental standards and in acceptable operational condition.

Even so, the Authority has insisted, for the past year, on converting the San Juan units to natural gas without requesting an amendment to the IRP. In its most recent filing with the Bureau, the Authority has requested the reallocation of federal funds for these conversions, without explaining how, in its most recent filing with the Bureau, the Authority has requested the reallocation of federal funds for these conversions. these conversions, without explaining how at the present time – with inflation at historically high levels – these expenditures are feasible and advisable.

It should be noted that the IRP allows for the possibility of designing and constructing a new natural gas plant, with more modern and efficient technology. technology, as part of this orderly transition to a 100% natural gas supply authority. an Authority that supplies 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050. The money that the The money the Authority is interested in reallocating was originally earmarked for the development of such a plant but delays in its design have plant, but delays in its design have increased construction costs, which PREPA claims as a justification for the change. The money the Authority wants to reallocate was originally intended for the development of the plant, but delays in its design have increased construction costs, which PREPA claims as justification for the change in the use of funds.

Incidentally, it is worth noting that the Authority’s delays in other areas, for example, in the contracting of solar panel projects, the contracting of solar panel projects that are part of the first phase of this transition (Tranche 1), also phase of the transition (Tranche 1), have also cost consumers. According to estimates by the Energy Bureau’s consulting firm, Synapse Energy, which has expertise in researching and advising on energy and advice on energy systems and their economic models, the delay of just over a year in the development of these year delay in the development of these projects has already implied close to $89 million in additional costs when compared to the average
when comparing the average cost of solar power to the cost of operating the Authority’s most expensive plants. cost of operating the Authority’s most expensive plants. According to their projections, another six months of delay could cost us an additional $44 million. could cost us an additional $44 million.

On the other hand, since 2019, the price of natural gas has more than doubled. According to a study by Energy Ventures Analysis, the factors affecting this increase are diverse.

Some could be of a temporary nature – the pandemic and the war in Ukraine – others of a more permanent nature – structural changes in European markets to reduce their dependence on Russian energy sources. The bottom line is the same: natural gas fluctuates as much as other fossil fuels for as much as other fossil fuels by variables beyond our immediate control.

Thus, tying much of the state’s generation to natural gas is substituting one addiction for another. Natural gas can and should be part of the fuel mix to which the Authority has access in its economic dispatch design, but its use should be with the highest efficiency technology. Otherwise, to continue betting on a multiplicity of old plants throughout Puerto Rico is to do the same thing that has brought us to this point. It is to force the merchant and the resident to open the electric bill dismayed by the surprise that the latest fluctuation in the international markets will bring. It is tying us to systems that were not designed to burn natural gas cleanly and will therefore continue to pollute our air.

The path is laid out for the transformation of the electricity system. All that is missing is the urgency to walk together into the future.

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Sustainable homes: 5 tips for creating sustainable and eco-friendly homes

Energy saving, sustainable materials and waste reduction are some of the steps to give more life to the home, in tune with the care of the environment.

Making the most of natural resources, using products that minimize energy consumption and incorporating long-lasting materials to reduce waste are some of the strategies for planning a sustainable home.

Sustainable homes

In recent times, concern about the environmental impact and awareness of climate change has changed the way of life of millions of people in the United States, Puerto Rico and around the world, which gradually contributed to the idea of building sustainable homes like this example in the city of Austin, Texas.

In many cases, the concept is only related to designs executed under the principles of bioclimatic architecture, but it is also possible to reconvert a home and use materials that optimize natural resources. In addition, it is key to take into account these tips to also save energy.

“In any place you can have a sustainable home, whether in the city or in rural areas, as long as natural resources are optimized, quality materials are used that result in a longer useful life to reduce costs and waste, or they are reused. Everyone can contribute and take actions from their homes that in the future will lead to a more sustainable lifestyle for social welfare”, explains Mariía del Mar Danuzzo, in charge of commercial architecture at Familia Bercomat.

 

5 keys to have a sustainable house

From the construction company in Austin they detail that when starting to build a house under this modality, there are five keys that should be taken into account:

  • Evaluate the environment: the basis for a sustainable house is that it must be designed to minimize the consumption of non-renewable energy and use construction materials that interfere as little as possible with the aggression to the planet. Therefore, when buying a plot of land, one should think about the surrounding area, that is, if it will be possible to extract solar energy, if it rains to take advantage of the water and if it has spaces to create green areas for harvesting, composting or simple connection with nature, in order to take care of the physical and mental health.
  • Use materials that contribute to environmental protection. A sustainable home should include thermal insulation in ceilings and walls, toilets with a maximum flush of 5 liters, aerators in faucets so that the water comes out oxygenated and less power is needed, rainwater irrigation systems, solar panels to take advantage of energy, lighting with LED lamps and everything that helps to reduce maintenance and optimize natural resources.
  • Examine costs in depth. Although in principle it takes a greater investment, maintenance is much lower, that is, it is recovered over time and in turn an excellent comfort is achieved in addition to contributing to the care of the planet, ecosystems and society in general, so it is not comparable to the money when we talk about the benefits, protection and responsibility.
  • Transforming the home into a sustainable home. Although it may seem impossible it is not, a house built far from the sustainable or ecological concept, you can start incorporating external elements, in principle, such as solar panels, aerators in faucets and reused materials and long durability. This is already a big step towards a greener and more efficient future.
  • Dimensioning the benefits to the health of themselves and those around them. There is something much more beyond the costs that can be saved in public services, an example of this are the fires suffered in Corrientes, due to global warming, added to acts of human irresponsibility. How much a family loses if their home burns down? How much health problems can cause the smoke that is breathed? These are incalculable figures, and everyone is responsible and must get involved, we must not think of it as an isolated fact but as a collaborative part of a better world that everyone needs, when we see it this way, the cost of a solar panel makes more sense and it is important to invest in it.

“Currently there are great advances in everyday life that, besides helping to protect ecosystems and biodiversity, also contribute to the access to drinking water in needy communities, so beyond the environmental impact, it is a collaborative work to ensure a better quality of life for citizens”, said the firm.

And they added: “The construction sector is not isolated from this and that is why from our place we work to contribute and contribute to improve social welfare from something as important as the home”.

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Some $7 billion that is not in the budget

The budget, as we know, goes mainly to pay for a train, a refinery and the payroll of government workers.

There will be approximately 8 trillion dollars that President López Obrador will have available to distribute to the national economy during 2023, according to what he has asked the deputies and you, who pay for the spending.

But there is a similar sized sum that will begin to be distributed to businesses on the other side of the northern border, which may have more impact on the growth of your business or your career.

The Budget, we know, goes mainly to pay for a train, a refinery and the payroll of government workers; their pensions, or the official companies they work for.

Much of it stays in Mexico City. This allows, among other things, Walmart, Chedraui or La Comer to continue selling groceries and the banks to continue charging commissions and interest. Good for all of them.

In view of government austerity, all of the above contributes to the economy maintaining its size, but not to its growth, according to the experience of this six-year term.

That is why workers, but also entrepreneurs and business owners from Cuautitlán, Querétaro or Monterrey, should go to Twitter and give a “follow” to John Podesta.

On the other side of the border, he will open an extraordinary suitcase with a content similar in size to that of the annual budget of the Mexican treasury, but this one will have a different purpose than the usual government spending. This money, which Podesta will administer, will be destined to businesses whose future size we can only imagine today.

It is 369 billion dollars that the White House will hand out to Americans on the condition that they exchange it for things like stoves, electric cars or photovoltaic systems for their homes and businesses.

Consider, for example, the case of Solarever, a Mexican firm with facilities in Hidalgo and Colima, which produces and exports solar panels to California and Texas, and which has been planning to list on the Nasdaq for some time now in order to capitalize itself, according to its director, Simon Zhao.

Also, consider what will happen to Ford’s workers and employees in Cuautitlán, who produce the Ford E Mustang.

Among Podesta’s plans is the delivery, on behalf of the U.S. government, of a check for 7,500 dollars (approximately 150,000 dollars) to help anyone who wants to buy this electric vehicle made in Mexico, which sells for approximately 47,000 dollars (a little more than 900,000 pesos).

The future of Solarever and of plants such as this one of Ford and other assemblers installed in the Bajío and northern Mexico, will dance to the rhythm played by the orchestra of this project called Investments in Energy Security and Climate Change in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Podesta’s official title is Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Deployment in the United States.

Who is this man? He was born in Chicago and is of Greek and Italian descent. He founded a lobbying company to help companies in their negotiations with the government and then created the Center for American Progress, an NGO that attacks inequality.

He recently chaired Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, prompting animosity between Republican Party groups and those sympathetic to former President Donald Trump.

He was previously an advisor to President Barack Obama, with whom he was responsible for coordinating the climate policy and initiatives of that administration, which strongly supported the founding of Tesla, Elon Musk’s company.

Today, Podesta is for all practical purposes the man with access and decision-making power in the largest investment fund for renewable energy in the United States.

He has under his supervision the equivalent of more than 7 trillion pesos, which for purposes of comparison, is an amount similar to what President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will be guarding next year.

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WASHINGTON – Federal Aviation Administration to pay almost $4 million

WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration will pay nearly $4 million for its largest solar power project to date, upgrading an air traffic control and training center in Oklahoma.

The agency said Thursday the project will help it meet President Joe Biden’s order for government buildings to use 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030.

The Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City includes more than 130 buildings spread across 1,100 acres.

“This project takes advantage of the area’s abundant sunlight, will save valuable taxpayer dollars and help build a more sustainable aviation system,” said Billy Nolen, acting FAA administrator.

The FAA said the panels are expected to generate enough power for 260 average homes and reduce the center’s electric bill by $170,000 to $200,000 a year.

At an initial cost of $3.98 million, the panels will take 20 to 23 years to pay for themselves.

Residential solar power system installations

The Prince William County Department of Development Services has announced that a new residential solar energy system installation training video and presentation is available online. A panel of experts shares step-by-step instructions on the plan intake process, quality control, county review and approval, and offers guidance on solar energy system installation plan requirements.

“Solar contractors and the number of permit applications have increased tenfold in recent years. As market demand has increased, so has the volume of new contractors and consultants entering the solar market,” said Wade A. Hugh, Director of the Development Services Department. “We want to make sure that all contractors and homeowners are familiar with the process of installing solar energy systems in Prince William County, as many entrepreneurs in this market are still gaining knowledge and experience.”

The Department of Development Services presented three solar installation training seminars, which were held over three days in August. Thirty-eight attendees, representing thirty-one different solar companies, participated in the training. The training presentation is available online here and on video here. Both can be found at pwcva.gov/residentialsolar.

Currently, there are approximately eighty solar contractors in the area and working in Prince William County. Twenty-one solar energy project plans are approved in Prince William County each month, on average. In the first half of 2022, Prince William County approved 147 solar power installation projects.

“As demand increases, advances in emerging technology come to market and homeowners spend more time in their homes, it is vital that safety is a shared priority for all parties: contractors, consultants, homeowners, occupants, guests and for others, such as, for example, fire and rescue services,” said Eric Mays, Prince William County building official. “The training will improve contractors’ knowledge and ability to obtain building permits efficiently and ultimately benefit our homeowners.”

Over the past five years, more than 820 homeowners have installed solar energy systems on their homes. Last year, the Department of Development Services launched a new residential solar energy systems checklist. The county offers online residential solar information and instructions, typical plans and solar energy system tax exemptions for solar energy equipment, installations or devices. There are three typical plans: Structural Roof Mounted Solar Panel Plans; Small Single Inverter System Plans; and Small Microinverter/AC System Plans.

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Which Latin American countries have the most potential for solar energy?

In times of energy crisis and rising world prices, the development of alternative sources is essential to guarantee the energy needs of nations. Some 20% of the world’s population lives in 70 countries with “excellent conditions” for the use of solar energy, i.e. a long-term production of more than 4.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh)/kilowatt-peak (kWp) per day. This is revealed in the World Bank’s “Global Solar Atlas” report.

While only African countries collectively exceed this threshold, Latin America and the Caribbean are a close second with about 4.48 kWh/kWp per day. Much of this potential is still untapped in lower-income countries. As the report states, this is “a unique opportunity to provide affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity services to a large part of humanity, where improved economic opportunities and quality of life are most needed”.

As this chart from Statista shows, Chile is the top country in the region in terms of practical performance of a commercial-scale solar power installation, with an average of 5.36 kWh/kWp/day. It is followed by Bolivia, Mexico and Peru, which exceed a daily average of 4.90 kWh/kWp. In Central America, El Salvador and Guatemala were in the lead, while in the Caribbean, the first place went to Haiti, ahead of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

Note: The analysis includes theoretical potential, air temperature, system configuration, shading and territory, as well as topographic and land use constraints.

 

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How to save energy by installing solar panels at home

Self-consumption of domestic solar energy is consolidating in Florida. The new photovoltaic solutions for homes can be adjusted to different needs and pockets. In addition, it is a sustainable and profitable alternative, very interesting from an environmental point of view, because it reduces CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, so firms such as El Corte Inglés or Leroy Merlin, among others, are betting heavily on this revolution.

Solar Power

 

Florida is the sunniest state in the United States, with an average of 2,500 hours of sunshine, although the demand for solar energy only reaches 30%, making it a source of electricity with immense potential in our country.

Solar Power Eco offers photovoltaic solar energy kits to get you started in self-consumption with various proposals with different quantities of solar panels. It also offers a service of installation of panels in your home, with free quote.

Solar Power Eco encourages you to generate your own energy with a solar plant to receive up to 50% subsidy with Next Generation funds, a deduction of the IRPF (up to 60%), a bonus of the IBI (which can reach 50%) and a reduction in the Tax on Constructions, Installations and Works, which is close to 95%.

Betting on solar energy

Save on your electricity bill by using this sustainable alternative, in fact it is one of the keys to having a more efficient home. Solar energy is free and unlimited and is used through photovoltaic solar panels. The essential requirements for the installation of solar panels at home are: to have a suitable roof that is in good condition, an optimal orientation towards the sun and to comply with current regulations.

The solar panels are installed on the part of the building where they receive the most solar radiation, usually the roof of the house. The number of solar panels in each installation is determined by the use or function that the energy fulfills, so in each case it will be necessary to observe the power, the budget, the frigories and the budget of the consumer.

What is photovoltaic solar energy?

With solar panels you can obtain thermal energy to heat water or photovoltaic energy, which is used to generate electricity.

The supply reaches the grid and the owner sells the surplus self-consumption produced by his panel to the electricity company, so it will have a direct impact on greater profitability and will increase the savings on the electricity bill month by month. What is proven is that the costs in the electricity bill are achieved from the first day of the use of the photovoltaic system.

Advantages of solar panels

  • Solar energy savings. Investing in these solar panels can generate savings in the electricity bill of a house. Although the initial investment may be high, solar panels can save up to 3o% of the annual investment, although it is usual that the expenditure is reduced between 15% and 20%. In the case of its use to generate air conditioning, according to Gana Energía, savings of up to 90% are achieved.
  • Maintenance of solar panels. They do not need a rigorous care and resist the inclemencies of the climatology because they are made of very resistant materials. They are not delicate, but to maintain their energy efficiency they need to remove dust and other debris from the surface, about two or three times a year.
  • Service life of the plates. For example, the Ikea Solstråle and Solstråle Plus range guarantees a minimum of 10 years of use and the solar panels for photovoltaic self-consumption can exceed 30 years. In addition, lithium batteries offer the possibility of storing energy for a longer period of time so that it can be used at night.
  • Self-consumption energy. Sustainability and renewable energies are becoming increasingly important in the public and private sectors, so consumers benefit from tax rebates and subsidies, including possible coverage of up to 40% of the cost of the photovoltaic installation.
  • CO2 emissions. More than 2,000 kilograms of this gas will not reach the atmosphere.
  • Sustainable energy. The escalation of gas prices and the limited consumption of fossil fuels has allowed a great advance in the technology that supports solar energy and has become one of the most developed and reliable. If you are still thinking about it, you can test its efficiency with a company like Otovo, which allows the user to acquire its solar panels on a rental basis.

El Corte Inglés solar panels

The proposal of El Corte Inglés is based on domestic energy self-consumption solutions through the installation of photovoltaic panels. The initiative will promote energy savings in homes and will be carried out by its integral decoration service: Solar Power Eco.

Other firms have launched themselves into self-consumption. USA Energy Solutions facilitates and centralizes the process for a photovoltaic installation. In fact, it is the only platform that compares offers, advises and accompanies property owners during the process of installing solar panels.

Solar Power Eco’s solar panels are a photovoltaic system that offers a turnkey solution for domestic solar energy. Objective? To turn rooftops and roofs into renewable energy stations by means of two systems that cover different needs, which you can discover in our article on the Solar Power Eco and Solar Power Eco Plus solar energy range.

Both can be installed on flat and pitched roofs. Solar Power Eco is the simplest and most affordable option, suitable for small homes with low daytime consumption. It guarantees a high rate of return (up to 340 watts peak power per panel).

Solar Power Eco Plus includes even more powerful panels (390 watts peak power per panel). Best for large houses.