What if solar panels could be smart panels?
In this video, CEO of SolarEdge Technologies, Guy Sella explains the technology that his Israel-based company invented to optimize electrical generation of solar photovolatic panels. By attaching a digital appliance to each solar panel and connecting each one of those devices to a software system, the technology can track inefficiencies in panels and detect rotten apples. Keep reading →
High energy prices have unleashed a wave of energy innovation around the world, says GE Energy Financial Services Managing Director of Venture Capital Kevin Skillern on this video.
Shot by GE for its Ecomagination series on people, profits and the planet, this video features a recent GE partnership with electric company NRG Energy and oil and gas giant ConocoPhillips to establish a $300 million fund that is currently investing in 30 emerging energy firms. The firm takes a heterodox approach to investing, taking positions in firms across the sector and focusing on the prospects for scaling and transforming the energy business on a global scale. Keep reading →
Investors and players in the energy business often focus on the flashiest technologies, ranging from highly visible solar and wind in the generation sector to next-generation smart meters monitoring usage on the customer level.
Geothermal is often the “forgotten renewable.” While some countries and regions are able to access large-scale geothermal power production, the use of distributed geothermal to regulate temperatures and limit the extremes of air-conditioning or heating use could promote huge efficiencies in energy use across the entire US. Keep reading →
Ever wonder what the future holds?
This Siemens video, narrated by a robotic android-like voice, illustrates one vision for the future: a smart grid that feeds electric vehicles and enables electricity from renewable generation to be stored. The video focuses particularly on the potential that electric vehicles (EV’s) could unlock and the positive implications they could have for the grid. Keep reading →
For years the army has been trying to reduce its dependence on vulnerable resources, including electricity.
Watch this video to see how Boeing and Siemens have partnered to offer the military innovative microgrid technology to help reduce the army’s dependence on the grid, incorporate higher percentages of renewables and use energy more efficiently. Keep reading →
This plane promises to use 25% less fuel.
With most planes sending impressive contrails of condensation out behind them, the Siemens High Flyer stood out at the recent Paris Air Show, a biannual show of mostly army aircraft, for its quiet and unassuming look. It is a hybrid machine that needs to be both charged and refueled before flying in the air–the motor runs at a constant 30 kW and burns varying amounts of fuel with usage. Keep reading →
Wind turbines could be out in the middle of the ocean producing electricity and no one on shore would know.
Offshore wind turbines can be placed “beyond visual range,” according to Google’s Director of Green Business, Rick Needham, who is featured in this video. He says turbines farther out at sea can also capture stronger winds. Keep reading →
A recent study by Stanford professor Jonathan Koomey claims that internet-giant Google uses about .01% of the world’s energy. However impressive, the number could be much higher.
Google–which now hosts billions of internet pages, maps, books, images and videos–has been trying to find novel approaches to data storage that will save money and energy. Data centers eat up an incredible amount of energy mostly because they require constant cooling to prevent the servers from overheating. Keep reading →
With current Production Tax Credits for wind set to expire at the end of 2012, the US wind business is getting nervous.
PTCs may be absolutely necessary for the wind sector to grow in the United States, AWEA Chief Economiost Elizabeth Solerno says in this video from the recent American Wind Energy Association conference, WindPower 2011. Keep reading →
Electricity travels at the speed of light and one organization hopes that means it can travel across the country in seconds.
Tres Amigas is working to connect the Eastern, Western and Texas interconnections in order to maximize efficiency of the American electricity grid. In this video, Tres Amigas CEO Phillip Harris explains what he hopes his company can do, without government subsidies. Keep reading →
