Indianapolis Motor Speedway has the world's largest solar PV farm

With installed capacity of 9 MW, no other sporting facility in the world has larger solar farm than Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).

Brazil's World Cup stadiums such as Mane Garrincha and Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto have PV arrays installed on their rooftops but theirs are smaller in size - up to 2.5 MW. In Europe, Verona’s Bentegodi football stadium is fitted with 1 MW of solar PV module.



The 9-MW solar PV farm at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The facility was unveiled early July 2014. Image: REW


“In 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed in part to help advance the automotive industry, which at that time was the new technology of the day. Today, the unused land at the IMS property just east of the race track has been transformed into a solar energy production facility that will provide an alternative source of energy to IPL customers.” - J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president.


About the IMS solar farm

Installation size	:	9 MW
PV module used	:	Over 39,300 pcs
Installer	:	Sunwize Technologies
Generated power	:	To be used first by the sporting facility
		Excess power to be fed back to the power grid, through PPA

TheGreenMechanics: That's Cool! Thumbs up.

What the folks at Indiana Motor Speedway did was utilise the dormant space near the backstretch of the racetrack and turn it into energy farm. I guess, for the guys running the sporting facility, it's a straight forward kind of idea and one that is sensible, doable; it's just a matter of what to decide and when.


Source: Renewable Energy World

New York launched new incentives for Large Solar Projects

I've been checking out New York's solar development on regular basis after learning about their Free Street Solar Chargers at selected locations within NYC and recently I saw this article in my email subscription.

New York has come up with several interesting incentives for solar projects carried out within the next 2 years. For us readers, it's sufficient to know they set aside $1 billion for this purpose, which is apart from existing ones.

But for SEDA (the body which manage the renewable energy projects implementation in Malaysia), they may want to look at it more detailed. There maybe nothing in it but there's no harm looking. The US is one of the nations with biggest capacity in new solar PV installation.

Statue of Liberty in New York. Image from Wikimedia Commons. Read about Commons here.

Here's the excerpt from Renewable Energy World:

New incentives for Large Solar Projects

Following the recent announcement to commit an additional $1 billion to New York solar incentives over the next decade, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) unveiled the next anticipated funding program for large solar systems, over 200 kW in size. This round of funding closely resembles previous offerings, and does not appear to be part of the "megawatt block" structure highlighted in the April announcement. 

Program Opportunity Notice (PON) went live in mid-May, promising $60 million in available incentives or more, to be awarded at NYSERDA's discretion. Applications are due July 17th, 2014 and all systems must come online by April of 2016.


Some changes from previous Large Solar Incentives

All New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) load zones are in play. Several favorable tweaks to this year's program, compared to earlier New York solar incentive rounds indicate a willingness on NYSERDA's part to see this program drive more project development this year than ever before. 

In previous PONs for large projects, awardees received the full incentive amount in five payments — 30% at project completion paid out in two upfront installments, and 70% paid out as a PBI split between the first three years of production. In the new PON, 30% upfront payment occur in one installment instead of two, and the remaining 70% condensed to only two years' worth of production, paid at year's end.


Renewable Energy Storage and Efficiency

This program also incorporates several tie-ins to storage and efficiency for applicable solar projects, echoing the New York State Public Service Commission's recent landmark initiative rethinking New York's energy future.

An additional $50,000 in incentives may be awarded to each project that integrates energy efficiency or storage at the customer site. Energy efficiency projects must reduce energy use intensity (kBtu/sq ft/year) by at least 15% over the baseline energy use intensity.

Storage projects must provide at minimum 250 kW of load management, demand management, or improved load factor. Finally, projects located in Strategic Locations (determined by each individual utility) will receive an additional 25% above the Project Incentive.

You can read further at REW

Solar Wind Energy to build $1.5 billion power tower in Arizona

Solar Wind Energy Tower Inc. won approval from an Arizona city to develop a $1.5 billion project that would use ambient desert heat to create a draft to generate electricity, in a concrete colossus that would be the tallest structure in North America.


Artist impression of the Solar Wind's colossal tower which create downdraft. Image: via REW


The 2,250-feet (686-metre) project, which resembles a nuclear plant’s cooling tower, would be capable of generating at a average rate of about 435 MWh [I suspect this would be monthly average] over the course of a year, said Ron Pickett, chief executive officer of the Maryland-based company.

In July and August, the Southwest’s hottest and driest months, the plant could produce more than 1,200 MWh.


The Solar Wind power tower: How it works

Using technology created by Solar Wind, water would be injected in a mist near the top of the tower, causing the air to cool and gain density. The draft created by the sinking air would exceed 50 miles per hour. As the air is forced through a ring of turbines at the tower’s base, electricity is generated.

How it works

“This is a game-changer in certain areas — hot, dry climates,” Pickett said. The company is proposing this project near the Mexico border to prove the concept, with the goal of licensing the process to developers. The technology would work in Africa, Australia and “you can throw a dart in the Mideast, and it works there,” he said.

San Luis, a city of 26,000 residents about 20 miles southwest of Yuma, Arizona, agreed to give the project necessary rights of way and sell it water under a 50-year contract. Terms weren’t disclosed for the agreement, which was approved by the city council on April 23.

Solar Wind expects to get the project operating as early as 2018.

Although no buyers yet for the project's power, local utilities and the U.S. Defense Department have inquired about it.

Source: Renewable Energy World

TheGreenMechanics: This ambitious project is not without criticism from the public; some readers argued that building the 686-metre tower would actually produce more CO2 than the potential avoidance in the foreseeable future.

Would be interesting to see this commissioned in 4 years' time.

You can read the full article by clicking the link provided above.

Top 10 U.S. utilities that added most amount of solar capacity in 2013

Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) has come up with its latest utility solar report, which ranks the utility companies in the country that added the most amount of solar capacity in 2013.

In the U.S., California is in front with more than 5.5 GW of solar capacity installed so far. Image: REW

The top 10 utilities accounted for 82% of all integrated solar capacity in that year. Additional report findings show that 4.2 GW of solar capacity was installed in the U.S. in 2013, bringing total cumulative capacity to more than 10.5 GW.

“Large scale installations dominated the landscape and represented well over 50 percent of the capacity installed in 2013. The increase in percentage dominance among the top 10 utilities is not indicative of those beyond the top 10 slowing down, but is instead a sign that top ranking utilities are building more on a large scale."
- Eran Mahrer, SEPA VP of Research and Strategy

Top 10 Utilities by installation (MW)

1. Pacific Gas & Electric (CA) - 1471 MW
2. San Diego Gas & Electric (CA) - 643 MW
3. Arizona Public Service (AZ) - 417 MW
4. Southern California Edison (CA) - 373 MW
5. Duke Energy Progress (NC, SC) - 137 MW
6. National Grid (MA, RI) - 111 MW
7. Public Service Electric & Gas (NJ) - 103 MW
8. Hawaiian Electric (HI) - 98 MW
9. Georgia Power (GA) - 59 MW
10. Duke Energy Carolinas (NC, SC) - 58 MW

Watts per customer

The watts-per-customer rankings calculate the number of customers served in relation to a utility’s installed solar capacity. What this does is that it levels the playing field and enables an across-the-board comparison between utilities.


Top 10 Utilities by Watts-Per-Customer

1. Sterling Municipal Light (MA) 831 W
2. San Diego Gas & Electric (CA) 461 W
3. Silicon Valley Power/City of Santa Clara (CA) 427 W
4. Arizona Public Service (AZ) 368 W
5. Hawaiian Electric Company (HI) 329 W
6. Pacific Gas & Electric (CA) 281 W
7. Hawaii Electric Light Co. (HI) 182 W
8. Maui Electric Company Ltd. (HI) 178 W
9. Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative (HI) 167 W
10. Imperial Irrigation District (CA) 159 W

You can read further at REW

TheGreenMechanics: In comparison, Malaysia's solar PV cumulative installed capacity so far is only at 109 MW (Source: SEDA portal, April 2014). But we have plan in place and we are optimistic that we will become one of the top Renewable Energy nations in South East Asia in time to come.

US joins 10-GW solar PV club

The United States now has more than 10 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar PV capacity, joining Germany, Italy, and China — and it's just getting warmed up, according to new calculations from NPD SolarBuzz. And watch for the next 10-GW Club member that's fast approaching.



Regional distribution of the U.S.' 10 GW of installed solar PV. (Credit: SolarBuzz)


Solar PV installations in the U.S. totaled 1.8 GW through the first six months of 2013. That isn't quite at the midpoint of SolarBuzz's forecasted 4.3 GW for the entire year, but that's still the expectation because the majority of the U.S. solar market should be realized in the second half of the year.

With the 10-GW milestone in hand, the U.S. solar PV market isn't looking back. SolarBuzz expects the market to hit 17 GW by the end of 2014, representing 80 percent growth over 18 months.


What's driving the U.S. solar market

• Individual state support schemes
• U.S. residential solar demand continues to surge, and third-party-owned solar residential in particular
• System pricing declines, especially driving the utility segment
• System price-points for utility-scale solar at $2.14/W and residential systems at $4.93/W

Worldwide outlook

Worldwide solar PV demand reached 15 GW through the first six months of this year, roughly a 9% increase from a year ago, and cumulative solar PV installations are about 116.5 GW, according to SolarBuzz. In each scenario, more than 60% comes from four countries: Germany, China, Japan, and the U.S.

In cumulative capacity only Japan is close to them, and Spain and France are distant at around 4.5 GW and 4 GW respectively. In the second half of this year, China and Japan should account for nearly half of the solar PV demand all by themselves.

Japan, which is having a stellar 2013 for solar PV, is catching up fast behind the U.S. in solar PV capacity and could top 10 GW cumulative in the next couple of months.

What's driving the Japanese market these days is the non-residential feed-in tariff, which is helping the utility segment really take off.


Further readings: Renewable Energy World

Save yourself the trouble - Don't travel with pressure cooker!

If you plan to travel abroad, it's wise to skip the pressure cooker.

Sound weird huh? But you'll be in a lot of of trouble if you travel to the US with one packed in your luggage because pressure cooker is now considered a dangerous weapon. Two pressure cookers were used in last month's Boston Marathon bombing.

Seriously though, who would want to take all the trouble to bring that bulky cooker in his suitcase and trouble to the States? Don't they have one there. If you intend to bring one, that can only mean you are planning to stay there for sometime. Why not just buy one?

: :        : :       : :       : :       : :       : :       : :       : :       : :

The following is an extract from what AP reported on Monday, but you can read more at at Yahoo News:-


(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) - File photo shows jets outside Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Saudi man, Hussain Al Kwawahir was arrested Saturday at the airport after lying about why he was traveling with a pressure cooker.

Saudi man traveling with pressure cooker arrested

A Saudi man was arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after federal agents said he lied about why he was traveling with a pressure cooker, but his nephew said Monday that it was all a misunderstanding about a device he simply wanted for cooking.

Two pressure cookers were used in last month's Boston Marathon bombings.

Hussain Al Khawahir was being held in Detroit on allegations of lying to Customs and Border Protection agents and of using a passport with a missing page. He was arrested Saturday.

His nephew, Nasser Almarzooq, told The Associated Press that he had asked his uncle to bring him the pressure cooker so he could make lamb. The college student said two pressure cookers he bought in the U.S. were "not good at all," and said the ones available in Saudi Arabia are higher quality.

Almarzooq said his uncle was coming to visit him for a couple weeks.

A criminal complaint alleges that Al Khawahir arrived at the airport Saturday on a flight from Saudi Arabia via Amsterdam, and that he told agents he was visiting his nephew.

He originally said he brought the pressure cooker with him because pressure cookers aren't sold in America, then later said his nephew had bought one but it "was cheap" and broke after one use, according to the complaint.

Agents said they also noticed a page was missing from Al Khawahir's passport from Saudi Arabia. He told them he didn't how it had been removed, and said the document had been locked in a box that only he, his wife and three children have access to in his home, according to the complaint.

The top 10 greenest organisations in the US

RenewableEnergyWorld asked: Who uses the most renewable energy?

It went on to answer that it depends on how you define it: Is it by kWh used, percent of use, on-site generation, long-term contracts, or all of the above.

For the United States, the rankings which is provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, are listed based on annual green power usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh), as follows:


Top 10 annual users of Renewable Energy.


What is "Green Power"

The EPA defines "green power" as renewable energy sources with the highest environmental benefits: solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, some biomass, and low-impact small hydro.

Large-scale hydro is not considered "green" as many of the large installations around the world have been responsible for large scale changes in all of the large rivers. In most cases ecology of the affected areas is totally changed for the worst.


For further reading, jump to RenewableEnergyWorld.com

Volkswagen of America plugs into 9.5MW solar farm

Last month, at a dedication ceremony in Chattanooga, Tennessee, dignitaries flipped a giant light switch to signal the official opening of the “Volkswagen Chattanooga Solar Park”, built on Volkswagen’s compound.

While we have the SEDA-regulated 20-year FIT power purchase agreement between power producers and TNB/SESB, Volkswagen Chattanooga and another private entity (Silicon Ranch) entered into 20-year power purchase agreement without involving the government or any of its agencies.

This is a business agreement between two private entities. And for solar power purchase, this is remarkable!

Chattanooga auto assembly plant is on the background. Volkswagen photo.

The automaker has begun using the 33,600 solar modules on a 33-acre solar farm adjacent to its manufacturing facility to power up to 12.5% of the plant’s needs during full production and 100% during non-production periods. VW’s embrace of solar power will reduce its operating costs over the long term.

Location                : Chattanooga, Tenn
Solar farm area      : 33 acres
Solar module type  : poly-crystalline
Number of panel    : 33,600
Capacity               : 9.5MW
Power production   : 13.1 GWh per year (equivalent to energy consumption of 1,200 homes)
Powering up          : estd. 12.5% of plant needs (100% during off production)

Module manufacturer     : JA Solar
Developer and operator  : Silicon Ranch (www.siliconranch.com)


The solar installation at Volkswagen Chattanooga confirms the awarding of the highly-coveted LEED Platinum certification to VW by the U.S Green Building Council in late 2011. At that time, the Building Council called the Chattanooga manufacturing facility “the world’s greenest auto plant” and noted it was the first automotive manufacturing plant in the world to receive the top LEED certification. Today, the Chattanooga plant remains the only auto plant worldwide to earn the LEED Platinum certification.


World's only LEED Platinum certified auto plant

Volkswagen's Chattanooga Operations runs the first and only automotive plant worldwide that was awarded with the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification of the U.S. Green Buildings Council.

Its new paint shop saves the use of 20,000 gallons of water per day by its innovate dry scrubber technology, while its water harvesting system provides about 6 million gallons of water annually for restrooms and cooling circuits in the body shop. The plant is certified according to ISO 14001 for its environmental management system and according to ISO 50001 for its energy management system.

And now, it came up with its own 13 GWh/year green power source from the sun.


TheGreenMechanics' two cents:

I think it is very possible for, say, Cypark to work out means to supply one of the industrial areas, or plants (e.g. KK Industrial Park, Proton Assembly plant, etc) for similar Solar Farm development and operations. A 20-year agreement is very much feasible.


Source: Volkswagen Press Release

US Senate panel condemns CIA interrogation method?

I have no idea what to comment. I thought this happens only in Hollywood movies:

The US Senate intelligence committee approved the findings of an investigation into CIA "enhanced interrogation" -- techniques the panel's leader decried as "terrible mistakes."

The committee voted nine to six to approve the 6,000-page report on the former use of the tactics, which have been deemed torture by President Barack Obama and Republican Senator John McCain among others.

Infographic by AFP, via Daily Express

Interrogation techniques include (as illustrated in the above infographic):

1) The attention grasp     - detainee grabbed by collar and draw to interrogator
2) Facial hold                 - interrogator's palm on either side of detainee's  face to hold head immobile.
3) Walling                      - slam against a false flexible wall
4) Facial slap                 - to induce shock, surprise and humiliation
5) Wall standing             - prevent detainee from moving or reposition
6) Stress position           - such as sitting with legs straight out and kneeling position
7) Water-boarding           - cloth covers nose and mouth as water poured over it
8) Cramped confinement - confinement in a small sitting only, or standing only, and with insect.


"The cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners is not only wrong in principle and a stain on our country's conscience, but also an ineffective and unreliable means of gathering intelligence," - John McCain

Source: AFP


This is my first knowledge about how they interrogate suspected terrorists.