Solar-Powered Plane Flies Off!

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An invention. I always tell my kids that there has been many inventions, and coming up with an invention is NO BIG DEAL.

I would have to explain to them that inventing is not what matters. What matters is that your invention is something that will help mankind, without having to destroy the earth that we live in. Look at plastic. its invention was most definitely heralded as one of the greatest in mankind's history, but nowadays, it is also one, if not THE, most abhorred product, and is considered the worst pollutant to the planet that we live in.

Not to deal on plastics or any other inventions, let me present to you the news on one inventions - this one really flies!

Read on:

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"The Solar Impulse, a solar-powered plane covered in 12,000 solar cells, took its maiden flight today in Switzerland. The plane stayed aloft for 87 minutes, performing test maneuvers as well as completing a successful takeoff and landing. With the first test flight behind them, the developers can focus on gearing up for their around-the-world solar powered flight set for 2012."
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What's your say? Have you got yours? Anything in your mind to consider as a new invention?
Whatever, do leave your comments.

Care to see what others are saying on this also? Check it out from the source here.

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China to go solar

ENERGY POLICY

BEIJING — China is to throw its economic might behind a national solar power plan that could result in it becoming one of the world's biggest harvesters of the sun's energy.

The government body responsible for overseeing energy policy has finalised a proposal for billions of dollars of incentives for solar farms and rooftop panels. Once approved, it is expected to give a boost to the domestic solar power market, which has lagged behind China's wind, nuclear and hydroelectric power investments.

China is the world's leading manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) panels, which turn sunlight into electricity. But 95 per cent of these are exported. However, the increasing concerns about climate change and energy security have changed attitudes.

Since last year, a glut in supply of PV panels has pushed prices down by more than 30 per cent. To widen China's energy base, the plan is expected to include the biggest boost for solar power ever, along with extra spending and policy support for nuclear, wind and biomass power.

By 2020, the government is committed to raising the share of renewable energy (excluding hydroelectric power) in the mix to 6 per cent, from the current 1.5 per cent.

Mr Julian Wong, a Washington-based energy analyst, said 2009 was shaping up to be the year of solar power in China. "The unique confluence of lower productions costs and decreased overseas demand means the cost of going solar is lower than ever and makes it an opportune time to make a policy push for domestic solar deployment," he noted.

China is still expected to remain dependent on coal for about 70 per cent of its energy needs for at least the next two decades, meaning it will remain the world's biggest emitter of carbon dioxide. The Guardian

From TODAYOnline.com, World News – Thursday, 28-May-2009; see the source article here.

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China to go solar

ENERGY POLICY

BEIJING — China is to throw its economic might behind a national solar power plan that could result in it becoming one of the world's biggest harvesters of the sun's energy.

The government body responsible for overseeing energy policy has finalised a proposal for billions of dollars of incentives for solar farms and rooftop panels. Once approved, it is expected to give a boost to the domestic solar power market, which has lagged behind China's wind, nuclear and hydroelectric power investments.

China is the world's leading manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) panels, which turn sunlight into electricity. But 95 per cent of these are exported. However, the increasing concerns about climate change and energy security have changed attitudes.

Since last year, a glut in supply of PV panels has pushed prices down by more than 30 per cent. To widen China's energy base, the plan is expected to include the biggest boost for solar power ever, along with extra spending and policy support for nuclear, wind and biomass power.

By 2020, the government is committed to raising the share of renewable energy (excluding hydroelectric power) in the mix to 6 per cent, from the current 1.5 per cent.

Mr Julian Wong, a Washington-based energy analyst, said 2009 was shaping up to be the year of solar power in China. "The unique confluence of lower productions costs and decreased overseas demand means the cost of going solar is lower than ever and makes it an opportune time to make a policy push for domestic solar deployment," he noted.

China is still expected to remain dependent on coal for about 70 per cent of its energy needs for at least the next two decades, meaning it will remain the world's biggest emitter of carbon dioxide. The Guardian

From TODAYOnline.com, World News – Thursday, 28-May-2009; see the source article here.

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• China mulls 3 trln yuan spending for renewable energy (news.alibaba.com)
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A bright future

SOLAR TEST-BEDDING

ESTHER NG, estherng@mediacorp.com.sg

A personnel surveying the solar photovoltaic and solar thermal system on top of the newly-completed Tampines Grande. TREVOR TAN

GRID parity — when solar power prices cost the same as retail electricity — may still be far away, but Singapore is already positioning itself as a solar test-bedding hub for when that day arrives.

Yesterday, five private sector projects were given the Solar Pioneer Award — under the $20-million Solar Capability Scheme (SCS) — for investing and integrating solar energy solutions in building design and test-bedding.

The awards were given out by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) to City Developments Limited’s Tampines Grande, Lend Lease Retail’s 313 at Somerset, Robert Bosch’s regional headquarters building at Bishan, Lonza Biologics’ manufacturing facility at Tuas, and Applied Materials’ manufacturing facility at Upper Changi.

These were chosen for their innovative design and effectiveness. For instance, Tampines Grande combined building materials with solar photo voltaic cells and is the first commercial property in Singapore to use solar thermal panels to power its air-conditioning system. Though not enough to generate electricity for the entire building, it is enough to cool the atrium and two lobbies.

Four public sector projects have also been added to the existing five in the $17-million Clean Energy Research and Test-bedding (Cert) programme. These are Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Changi Airport Budget Terminal, National Environment Agency’s Meteorological Station and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

Out of the $37-million fund from Cert and SCS, $8 million has been given out to 14 projects — nine from Cert and five from SCS. These projects complement the Housing Development Board’s $31-million solar test-bedding project which aims to fit solar panels in 30 HDB precincts by 2015. With these new projects, Singapore’s installed base of solar systems will increase five-fold from 200 kilowatts last year to about 5 megawatts.

The performance and climatic impact data from these test-bed sites will be captured by the newly-launched National Solar Data Repository — jointly set up by the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore and Singapore Polytechnic.

The cleantech industry is expected to generate $3.4 billion in value-added and create 18,000 jobs by 2015.

From TODAYOnline.com, News – Friday, 22-May-2009; see the source article here.

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A bright future

SOLAR TEST-BEDDING

ESTHER NG, estherng@mediacorp.com.sg

A personnel surveying the solar photovoltaic and solar thermal system on top of the newly-completed Tampines Grande. TREVOR TAN

GRID parity — when solar power prices cost the same as retail electricity — may still be far away, but Singapore is already positioning itself as a solar test-bedding hub for when that day arrives.

Yesterday, five private sector projects were given the Solar Pioneer Award — under the $20-million Solar Capability Scheme (SCS) — for investing and integrating solar energy solutions in building design and test-bedding.

The awards were given out by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) to City Developments Limited’s Tampines Grande, Lend Lease Retail’s 313 at Somerset, Robert Bosch’s regional headquarters building at Bishan, Lonza Biologics’ manufacturing facility at Tuas, and Applied Materials’ manufacturing facility at Upper Changi.

These were chosen for their innovative design and effectiveness. For instance, Tampines Grande combined building materials with solar photo voltaic cells and is the first commercial property in Singapore to use solar thermal panels to power its air-conditioning system. Though not enough to generate electricity for the entire building, it is enough to cool the atrium and two lobbies.

Four public sector projects have also been added to the existing five in the $17-million Clean Energy Research and Test-bedding (Cert) programme. These are Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Changi Airport Budget Terminal, National Environment Agency’s Meteorological Station and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

Out of the $37-million fund from Cert and SCS, $8 million has been given out to 14 projects — nine from Cert and five from SCS. These projects complement the Housing Development Board’s $31-million solar test-bedding project which aims to fit solar panels in 30 HDB precincts by 2015. With these new projects, Singapore’s installed base of solar systems will increase five-fold from 200 kilowatts last year to about 5 megawatts.

The performance and climatic impact data from these test-bed sites will be captured by the newly-launched National Solar Data Repository — jointly set up by the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore and Singapore Polytechnic.

The cleantech industry is expected to generate $3.4 billion in value-added and create 18,000 jobs by 2015.

From TODAYOnline.com, News – Friday, 22-May-2009; see the source article here.

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• Now Class: A "Photovoltaic Cell" Lesson?.. (ecofriendlymag.com)
• T-Solar Launches Volume Production of World's Largest Solar Panels on Applied Materials' SunFab Thin Film Line (ecofriendlymag.com)
• Taiwan's Solar Stadium runs 100% on self-generated energy and supplies neighbourhood (isiria.wordpress.com)
• Solar Cogeneration (slideshare.net)
• Beyond Fossil Fuels: David Mills on Solar Power (sciam.com)
• 2nd European solar days: Europe celebrates the energy from the sun 15-22 May 2009 (environmental-expert.com)