Architecture that brings Solar into the Landscape

This is interesting and challenging at the same time.

For the architects and landscapers with 'green tint' at the back of their mind, it would be interesting to find out if solar energy and energy efficiency can blend well with beautiful architecture. Folks at Spotlight Solar came up with this idea.

Likely applications

Suitable for commercial and public properties of many kinds - schools, science museums, city halls - these unique products help in differentiating system integrators services and brand. They could dramatically elevate the visibility of your buildings.


'Curve' offers striking and functional design. It is fresh and inviting, bending toward the sun and visitors.


'Lift' design offers flexibility and dynamic look.





Also a great idea for landscape design.

They build structures that complement other energy projects, adding reputation value to the ROI on green building investments. By making solar more visible and attractive, they hope to accelerate the adoption of solar energy.

The Green Mechanics: Put solar panels where people can see them. And like them.


Source: Spotlight Solar, http://www.spotlightsolar.com. All photos are shared from their website.

Split Mechanical Seal reduces downtime and installs fast

If you are in the business of rotating equipment, this would be of interest to you. I receive an update from my online subscription of HydroWorld magazine and I thought I'd share this with you.

Many of the mechanical seals in our application are brand specific, i.e. seals that are specified by the pump manufacturer, but this could prove to be an excellent alternative if it stand up to the pressure in our system.


                      "Split and easy" - the new 442C split mechanical seal from Chesterton


This is essentially a cartridge mech seal but with the benefit of much faster installation and better pressure handling, as claimed by seal specialist Chesterton.

If your main concern is downtime then this could be your answer as the manufacturer claims you can install it in just a matter of minutes. Similar to ammeter clamps for busbar in electrical panels which require lengthy shutdown, solid round mechanical seals are a nightmare to install especially on critical equipment.

Ammeter clamps have came a long way in inventing split clamps, although accuracy would be slightly affected. But for non-billing applications, split clamps are more than sufficient.

I would think that split mechanical seals would serve the same purpose. Sealing capability would inprove with every introduction of 'facelift' for the existing model/platform.


Says Chesterton:

The 442C uses an interlocking face design with a unique holder that self-aligns the face halves in the rotating assembly. This ensures proper face alignment, which is critical to sealing success. Springs energize after installation, allowing for maximum space between seal faces during installation.

The seals have been used on pumps and other rotating equipment with shaft sizes ranging from one inch to 30 inches.

The design simplifies installation and repair by using a standard spare parts kit, allowing the user to lower inventory costs, enhance operation flexibility and speed up equipment turnaround.


Further info and details

There is an Android App for you to see it in action which you can download here.

Details can be obtained at PumpnSeal and Chesterton brochure.

Schneider Electric's Efficiency Quotient to help customers with energy assessments

Energy management specialist Schneider Electric wants Malaysians to use its online Efficiency Quotient tool to help improve energy conservation.

The quick and easy online questionnaire that was launched last year, provides customers with an energy management assessment, including cross-user comparisons and recommended steps for reducing energy costs and improving efficiency.


           It covers industrial plants, data centres, buildings and energy & infrastructure


Although the tool is just a fundamental guide (available at the company's website) but it is useful enough and it can help Malaysians conduct their own energy management assessment to compare their spending to other users.

"According to the International Energy Agency, we are the third largest energy consuming nation in the Association of South-East Asian Nations and as our economy continues to grow, so will our energy needs."
- Soo Pow Leong, Schneider Electric Malaysia country president


Upon completing the survey, the corporate and individual users will receive their energy efficiency 'score' on a rating of 1 to 5 and they can share and compare their scoring against other participant in the survey.

Based on this score, Schneider Electric will provide them with recommendations and access to relevant educational materials including relevant white papers, links and other tools to help guide their energy efficiency improvement process.

Interested users can consult Schneider Electric specialists to further assist them to plan and implement technologies, strategies and services to increase business performance and efficiency. This way, the assessment would be more suited to specific requirement of the orginasation.

Try it today at Schneider Electric EQ Survey Centre


TheGreenMechanics: At the very least, the Efficiency Quotient tool will be useful in educating users about effective ways of using energy and help them identify easy steps to lower energy bills.

I tried to register online today but the server seemed to have some issues and I got stuck at the country selection drop-down menu, even after several attempts.

Basic solar power system for the grid-deprived homes at RM6,500

Many villages in Tuaran (Kiulu constituency) are still without electricity and I wanted to find out if it was possible to install small "phone charging stations" at the community halls (Balai/Dewan Raya), and perhaps a couple of LED lamps to help the folks communicate via cellular phones.

The idea is to purchase solar panel to power up a converter with an output of 150W to 200W, provide battery for energy storage, a couple of USB power outlets and a switch socket outlet (AC power). Installation was intended to by DIY.

I made some inquiries last year to find out what would be the cost in Sabah; I know one can get a better deal in West Malaysia. This is what I got from an e-mailed reply:


Battery/charger/inverter in a single module offered by Green Electric. No mention of brand of the solar panel.


An All-in-One (battery/charger/inverter) 150W output system + 135Wp solar panel.
Battery: Lithium Ion, which is smaller and more environmentally friendly
The cost of the system is RM5,000 and the cost of a single 135Wp solar panel is RM1,500.

The 500Wh System specifications:

• 666Wh lithium-polymer battery 
• Battery charger with state of charge indicator 
• Automatic switch-over circuit 
• Note: Min. 1,500 full charge/discharge cycles 
• 135W solar panel 

Total cost of the solar powered system: RM6,500

The local-based company claimed to have installed quite a lot of them in Tenom and Pitas. As price of solar panel falls further, you can expect to get better pricing this year.

RM1,500 for a 135W solar panel means that the cost per watt is RM11.10 which is pretty steep. I was looking at a mini display at City Mall, Kota Kinabalu the other day and the cost per watt is RM8.00; you can actually buy a 135W solar panel at RM1,080.


About the service providers

Green Electric Sdn Bhd which distributes the DIY kit have installed quite a number of the off-grid solar power systems in Sabah through its system implementer, Compugates Sabah Sdn Bhd. Green Electric acts as designer and consultant, and Compugagates acts as the installer and maintainer of the systems.


TheGreenMechanics: Tthe price offered is expensive. If I were to install a system on a DIY pet project, I would look at a total cost of slightly more than half the price quoted.

Companies with highest revenue in 2012

For your/my info: All top firms in Malaysia posted positive return last year. Exception, of course, is Malaysia Airlines System - but no one should be surprised anymore about this particular company.

Many of the firms in the top 20 are government-linked companies. Those ranked 21 to 200 are also a mixture of privately owned and GLCs, with GLCs taking the lead. It is time these companies look seriously at improving their remuneration package in view of the several revisions already carried out in the public sector.

While the government has no say on the privately owned entities, it has moderate to strong influence in the administration of policy of the GLCs. I say, start here with these companies. And other big private firms will feel the 'heat' too. The longer we wait, the bigger the salary gap will be between public and private sector.

                                              Source: The Malay Mail


RM1.36 trillion revenue for top 200 firms
Feb 5, 2013

MALAYSIA’S top 200 companies earned a total of RM1.36 trillion in revenue last year and net profit amounted to RM163 billion, said credit management company DP Information Group managing director Chen Yew Nah yesterday. Of the 14 sectors considered, she said the four strongest sectors of petroleum and gas, holding firms, manufacturing, financial and insurance generated more than two thirds of the combined revenue.

“In the top 10 positions alone, nine home-grown companies like Petronas, Malayan Banking Bhd, YTL Corporation Bhd and the Axiata Group Bhd are in the lead,” she said during a briefing on Asian Corporate Giants.

Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute chief executive officer Tan Sri Michael Yeoh said amidst the positive prospects, corporate could face a few worrying challenges this year onwards.

“The biggest challenge will be talent shortage. Companies have to strategise ways to attract and retain talents, as well as sustaining business growth.

There’s no point of being successful now if you are only going to fall back after two or three years.”

Chen added that companies which have ventured globally also need to have an exit strategy should the venture collapse and ensure they secure the right level of financial support.

She said companies should now focus on 11 growing markets of China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. -- The Malay Mail

SolarLight-300 by Kirchner

The beauty of Solar power is that it can be harnessed everywhere. It is environmentally friendly and cost-effective, and the single major advantage of solar energy is its location-independent availability.

We have seen many solar light from various manufacturers (predominantly from China) but what set Kirchner Solar Group apart from the rest of the Asian manufacturers is the history and track record for quality solar products. It has many off-grid solar power systems in its product range and one of them is the Solar Light 300. It is an energy saving rechargeable lamp with 300 lumens in brightness.

Quite nicely built.

The difference is that it does not require power supply mains to recharge; it comes with solar charger. As a guideline, a typical 40W incandescent bulb can have brightness of 275 to 400 lumens, depending on brand and colour temperature. So, you can think of this portable solar light along the same line.

It is developed in particular for the energy requirement in structurally weak regions, however, it can be used in remote rural regions at any location if so desired.

There are various way you can position it to suit your need

In comparison with diesel generators, kerosene lamps, paraffin lamps and similar energy or light sources, the Solar Light 300 surely protects the climate and health better. I'd like to have one for outings and camping trips.

For further reading, visit Kirchner Solar Group.

Featured Energy Company: Wang Noi Power Plant

The Wang Noi Power Plant is located on the area of 280 acres at Wang Noi District within Ayutthaya province.

It is located approximately 70 kilometers north of Bangkok with total generating capacity in excess of 2 GW supplying power to central region of Thailand.


Wang Noi Power Plant n brief

The power plant is equipped with 3 combined cycle blocks, incorporating 6 gas turbines and 3 steam turbines. The official synchronization was completed in April, 1996 and the Commercial Operation date (COD) in May, 1996. The main fuel for plant generation is natural gas from two sources – the Gulf of Thailand and Myanmar. Diesel oil of 60 million liters has been reserved as supplementary fuel in case of gas supply interruption. The total capacity of Wang Noi Power Plant is 2,027 MW and the gross production from 1996 to 2011 was 147,428,708,433 million kWh.

An Inlet air cooling system of 20,000 ton is installed at Block 3 of the combined cycle power plant. The installation was completed in June 2012 and can further enhance the capacity by 70 MW to the gross generation. Wang Noi Block 4 combined cycle power plant is currently under construction. The project will be completed in June 2014 and will add the capacity of 785 MW to the present generating system.

Wang Noi Power Plant developed an emergency response plan by building a flood barrier during Thailand’s worst flood in 2011, that protect and saved the power plant from severe impact. This barrier was enhanced to cover 5 kilometers in length to protect the total area of 1.28 million sq meters.

Stage one of the CCGT. Photo: power-technology

Why Wang Noi Power Plant?

The plant is an example of power generation plant that promotes efficient energy utilisation technology, which carries out its operations in complete compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. From July 2007 to present, the power plant has given over ฿450 million (US$14.3 mil) to Community Development Fund and has carried out a wide range of social and environmental activities to develop and build better living for the community around it, such as, public health, education, occupational promotion, cultural conservation etc.

It has been accredited with ISO 14001, ISO9001, and TIS18001 certification. The power plant was honoured for its outstanding business operations for nine consecutive years since 2002 and is proud of achievement of 2 million hours of operation with zero accident.

This plant is also the site of choice for Technical Plant Tour by the organiser of the Renewable Energy World Asia Conference & Expo in Bangkok, Thailand early October 2012.

GE Solar Projects Showcase

The first featured company has to be GE Energy Financial Services for being awarded Corporation of The Year at the 2011 Global Cleantech Award. GE made 22 investments in emerging energy technology companies in 2011 and is no doubt one of the fore runners in clean technology and renewable energy.

This is a short slides show of what GE has done in the recent years.

GE Energy Financial Services has invested $6 billion in a diverse portfolio of renewable energy assets such as wind, solar, biomass, hydro and geothermal power. The company announced at the Infocast Solar Power Finance & Investment Summit in San Diego in Feb. 2012, that its 1GW portfolio spans 48 solar power plants in six countries:- Australia, Canada, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the United States.

Some of GE's solar related project around the globe are shown as follows:
Note: All images are screenshots of GE's Solar Project Investment Showcase slideshow.

Torre de Miguel Sesmero, Badajoz, Spain

 GE Energy is building the largest US solar panel factory in Colorado.

Su Sciuffu Solar Plant, Villasor, Italy

Serpa, Portugal - 11MW

San Diego, California in 2005

GE Energy Financial Services’ latest investment is in LS Power’s $550 million Arlington Valley Solar Energy II project, a crystalline silicon PV solar farm whose construction is expected to begin next month (March 2012) near Arlington, Arizona.

2011 Was a Record Year

It was a record yearfor GE Energy Financial Services’ global solar power investing. The followings are the investment made in 2011:

1) 50MW portfolio of solar PV farms in Canada
2) 10MW solar PV project in Australia
3) 550MW solar PV project in the United States
4) 20MW solar PV power plant atop a greenhouse in Italy

Overall, the GE unit has made more than $8 billion in RE commitments globally, including solar, wind, biomass, hydro and geothermal power.

And that is why GE won the Corporation of the Year Award.