Solar Power

a self-supporting object that provides remote communities with energy, water, and shelter. that’s what OF. STUDIO envisions with ‘ephemeral station’. inspired by the banyan tree and hot air balloons, the speculative design uses recycled materials and incorporates a system of photovoltaic cells to turns the sun’s rays into energy.

images and videos courtesy of OF. STUDIO

 

 

the proposal is designed for the US state of nevada. visualized within the sparsely populated community of gerlach, the ephemeral station is conceived as a sculptural object that leaves a strong impression on its users but minimal environmental impact on the site. like the great banyan tree, it’s a place for communities to gather. and like hot air balloons, the station has the ability to move and transform in shape, according to external weather conditions. ‘it will expand and contract as its internal temperature changes. this movement will give the idea the object is alive and constantly breathing. just like a living organism that produces and consumes energy,’  says OF. STUDIO.

the ephemeral station is conceived as a sculptural object

 

 

the designers describe ephemeral station as an ‘innovative shelter’ that can be used to host a wide variety of functions: from food markets to live music. to host bigger events, the station can be scaled up to provide more space and more power. alternatively, a number of the cloud-like objects can also be clustered together to create a large covered site. 

the shaded space underneath can host a wide variety of functions

 

 

the structure is composed of a primary steel frame that sits on steel ground plates. on top of the primary structure is a sheet of cotton onto which a series of photovoltaic panels are fixed. the station is then topped in a recycled polycarbonate balloon with an aluminium underbelly ceiling. the prototype to be constructed with completely recycled materials and using offsite fabrication to reduce harmful carbon emissions and to afford a more efficient construction process respectively. 

 

 

 

while developing the project, OF. STUDIO carefully analyzed the climate of gerlach and consulted solar energy systems and environmental design experts. this research provided the precise orientation of the station to ensure maximum solar gains throughout the year. the design team also considered elevated temperatures that could cause the PV panels to overheat. to try and mitigate this, they’ve incorporated an evaporative cooling system that doubles as a water filtration system. 

the station is orientated to ensure maximum solar gains

 

 

‘to avoid overheating of solar PV, an underlying fabric is introduced that remains wet as it draws water from a small water puddle within the shell,’  explains OF. STUDIO. ‘the heated internal air in the module results in evaporation (from underneath the solar panels), thereby both cooling the panels and resulting in water droplets collecting on the module’s top inner skin. these droplets find their way to collection gutters and become a source of pure drinkable water. it is a similar process followed by small boats at sea to create fresh potable water from seawater.’ 

ephemeral station materiality

 

 

the legs of the module work as capillary tubes to draw up underground or surface water, maintaining the puddle in the module. the extracted water is considered potable as it goes through heating and pasteurization. this distilled water is used for drinking and could also be diverted to irrigation systems in summer, such as micro-sprinklers. the design team estimates that 0.8 gallons of water could be produced per day, but it would require mixing with freshwater to achieve the required levels of saline content. depending on the level of salts in the original water, they estimate that this mix could be 50% distilled water and 50% of the fresh puddle water.

 

assembly

axonometric

plan and elevation

sun exposure

technology

cluster

sketch

 

 

project info:

 

name: ephemeral station

design: OF. STUDIO 

consultants: engineer alfredo esteves miramont (solar energy systems), studio 4215 (environmental design)

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lynne myers | designboom

The Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt will harness solar energy to illuminate the mutt within a month.

Addressing presspersons in Udupi on Friday, manager of the Paryaya Admar Mutt Govindaraj said the mutt will set up a 135 kW capacity solar power unit at an estimated cost of ₹60 lakh. It will be as per the eco-friendly measures taken up by paryaya seer Eshapriya Tirtha.

He said that when the project is commissioned the mutt would save about ₹18 lakh annually towards electricity bill, for using grid power. Now, the mutt spends ₹24 lakh annually. “The average daily solar power generation would be 600 to 750 units,” he said.

The solar panel will be installed on 12,000 sq ft area atop the Rajangana Hall adjacent to Sri Krishna Mutt. The installation of panels will begin from Monday and work is expected to be completed by April 10.

“Karnataka Bank has assured to provide 1/3 of the total estimated cost. Devotees can also participate through donations,” he said. Orb Energy will install the solar panel and maintain it through its battery of experts. Orb Energy assistant general manager Balakrishna Acharya said the return on investment is expected in four years.

A school district in Batesville, Arkansas made a significant switch to renewable energy. It bought solar panels to power the school disctrict, and in doing so saved up a bunch of money that it then used to give its teachers pay rises. 

Thanks to lower energy bills, the school district, which comprises one high school and five other education centers, reports Futurism, was able to pay its teachers an extra $15,000 each.

Prior to this, it had been tricky to keep teachers working in the district, as pay was low and it’s in a rural part of the state that not many people want to move to.

What the Batesville school district did

The school turned things around in 2017 by buying some 1,500 solar panels that were installed in a nearby unused field. Left over panels were attached to the school itself. Any leftover power generated by the pantels is sold back to the gird in order to power the local region, too, wrote IFLScience!. 

Between the lower utility bills and the district’s renewable energy generation, what was once one of the lowest average salary disctricts has risen to one of the top, reported CBS News, the first to spread the news.

It’s easy to comprehend why the school district has now turned into a popular spot for teachers to apply to, and fewer resignations are now being handed in.

Overall, the move to renewable energy in Batesville has not only helped the planet, it’s also directly improved the lives of many teachers and kids in the district. 

There’s certainly been an increase in the use of renewable energy in the U.S., with 11.4 percent of the nation’s energy being generated from renewables — although that’s still a far way down from the 80 percent still coming from fossil fuels.

The good news is that prices to buy solar panels and wind turbines is dropping, which incentivizes more companies, industries, and now schools to turn to them for power.

It’s fantastic to see initiatives like the Batesville school district’s turn to renewable energy, and this is a clear example of the direct positive effects using this source of energy generates.

In the days after the Alameda County Board of Supervisors denied all appeals and upheld the zoning board approval of Intersect Power’s Aramis solar energy project in northern Livermore, the Weekly received two lengthy and compelling Letters to the Editor with opposing viewpoints on the development.

Rather than opt for shortened versions, we decided to run the full submissions in a Point/Counterpoint format. Here are the original commentaries from Dawn Argula, CEO and president of the Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce, and resident David Rounds, who has been actively tracking the project.

For renewable energy

By Dawn Argula

The Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce has been on record since 2020 in support of the Aramis renewable energy project. It clearly aligns with LVCC policy priorities that include support for sustainable and sufficient infrastructure for a thriving economy. The project was approved in a 5-0 vote by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors on March 4.

LVCC deeply appreciates the due diligence performed by Alameda County — staff, and the East County Board of Zoning Adjustments, the appointed body of commissioners that oversee planning matters in eastern unincorporated Alameda County and the authority for the jurisdiction in which this project is proposed.

LVCC is thankful for the thoughtful and deliberative consideration of the five-member Board of Supervisors, and its action to approve the Aramis project.

Aramis worked with the county and the community to go far beyond in meeting additional expectations and planning for further contingencies

We wish to recognize the actions of District 1 supervisor representing the Livermore Valley, David Haubert, who took office this January. Supervisor Haubert quickly got up to speed on this important issue, listened to the concerns of neighbors, considered the findings in the required environmental review of the project and staff recommendation, and heard hours of public comment as he deliberated a decision and action.

I streamed the meeting on March 4, and it was clear that a recognition of the importance and value of both the land and of the opportunity to, locally, increase a critical resource, were carefully balanced and taken into consideration by the supervisors.

Today’s environmental and economic conditions demand that we and our leaders have the courage to look through a 21st-century lens to plan, regulate and execute to address our needs and to prepare for future generations.

LVCC believes that strengthening the reliability of energy resources, especially that which is clean and renewable, is critical to a sustainable and resilient economy.

Our demand on energy resources is not currently met within our city, county or Bay Area region, but imported from other parts of California and the western U.S.

As we move towards a future of increased electrification — vehicles, homes, commercial and industrial — the Aramis project presents us with an incredible opportunity that deserved serious consideration.

LVCC respects the views of those that expressed opposition to the approval of the Aramis project. With the Livermore Valley’s plentiful space and sunshine, LVCC supports continuing the discussion to include all at the table, as together we seek a balanced approach towards increasing this important local resource.

Board OKs utility-scale solar in North Livermore

By David Rounds

It only took Dave Haubert, District 1’s new supervisor, two months to break a significant, big campaign promise. Vowing during the run up to the election to favor the creation of a “solar siting policy” before approving utility-scale solar, Haubert led the 5-0 vote by the Board of Supervisors to approve the Aramis project earlier this month.

Vowing to continue to “work” on a solar policy, the environmental and legal flaws of this project were dismissed by the supervisors. Next month will be an appeal hearing and vote on a second utility-scale solar plant, across the street from the Aramis project. A solar policy will not be in place by that time. Does anyone question the vote of Haubert and the supervisors?

Once this second project is approved, developing a solar siting policy should be easy for Haubert and the supervisors … put it in the now-industrialized North Livermore Valley. The disregard for violations of General Plan zoning, proven environmental impacts and the general inappropriateness of siting this solar factory in North Livermore was discouraging, but not unexpected from a Board of Supervisors who have never accepted the protections to open, scenic and agricultural land offered by Measure D.

How could they justify this decision? They did it by making this a zero-sum choice. Save the environment for our grandchildren or have open space. This ridiculously simplified overstatement is a cop out that is going to become the “de rigueur” for solar developers and politicians. Supervisors are not elected to just make tough decisions; they are elected to make smart decisions and be leaders.

Options abound for Alameda County to develop clean energy sources that do not require covering existing agricultural lands and open space. Are those options, “turn key,” like this Aramis proposal? No, but sometimes the right decision, impacting the most people, requires work, dedication and commitment. Unfortunately for citizens, it is much easier for the county to just give that work over to a for-profit developer.

Utility-scale solar energy factories can go many, many places in the county and the state, but they should not go everywhere. These decisions around our collective desire for clean energy must not be decided based on a developer’s plan and willing land owners, especially when one environmental consideration is being sacrificed for another.

Lumos Global BV signed a deal with Hinckley Group to recycle thousands of lithium batteries as the Dutch company specializing in off-grid power in West Africa sees strong sales growth amid the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Amsterdam-based company already delivered 10,000 lithium batteries to Hinckley to recycle at its facility, a first of its kind in the region, Chief Executive Officer Alistair Gordon said in an interview. Lumos sells home solar-power units that include a five-kilogram lithium battery. The company has been storing used batteries in warehouses while trying to come up with a recycling plan in recent years, Gordon said.

“Lumos grew 39% during our fourth quarter with work from home driving power demand, the need to recycle defunct or end-of-life batteries have become all the more pressing,” said Gordon.

MELBOURNE, Australia, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The 21st century has seen a massive switch from traditional power sources to more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives. Indeed, there has been a large push to urge government bodies to fight against and demand progression away from using limited natural resources for energy supply in the past year alone. This has spawned a growing popularity for solar panels in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and across the country. Australians are eager to make the switch to renewable power and are starting at home.

Clean energy alternatives such as solar power and wind power had a record year for adoption in 2020, showing that people will not abandon this new ideal even amongst the hectic unforeseen changes in circumstance brought on by the global pandemic.

Companies such as Sunrun Solar, a solar panel installer in Melbourne, have reiterated the solar power benefits for residential and commercial properties as growing even stronger during the past year. Touting quality products that are reliable and affordable, the roadblocks to converting to solar energy are getting fewer and fewer.

Gas power consumption has been in a steady decline for the past decade. This is a direct result of the changing preference of Australians across the country.

While most homeowners in Australia have turned to traditional power sources such as gas for their at-home energy, there is a big change in mindset around accepting the status quo and venturing out into unknown territory. As Australia boasts a massive number of sunlight days per year, it’s one of the best places to embrace solar-powered systems and early adapters are proving the benefits.

With solar power in Melbourne having been around for many years, it has proven itself as a reliable way to produce power for households and businesses. Sunrun Solar has seen many homeowners in recent years make the switch due to incentive programs and positive word of mouth. 

As gas prices rise, so too does the demand for renewable alternatives. While some Australians have waited to assess these solar systems’ efficacy, now seems to be the time where many are ready to take the jump. As there is less demand for gas power every year, it seems that Australia may have officially turned a corner towards achieving a big change in outlook surrounding the solar energy industry.

Related Images

solar-panels-melbourne.png
Solar Panels Melbourne
Solar Panels Melbourne

Related Links

Solar Panels Melbourne

Solar Installers Melbourne

SOURCE Sunrun Solar

On March 1, Garfield Clean Energy (GCE) kicked off Solarize Garfield County (Solarize), a three-month initiative intended to increase the number of residences in Garfield County utilizing solar power generation. The Solarize program is a component of GCE’s overall objectives of increasing energy production from renewable resources, increasing energy efficiency and reducing petroleum consumption in the county.
GCE is a collaboration among the county, the six municipalities between Parachute and Carbondale, Colorado Mountain College and Roaring Fork Transportation Authority. It is managed by Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER), a nonprofit consulting firm headquartered at the Third Street Center in Carbondale.
As Dave Reed, communications director for CLEER, explained in an email, “Solarize Garfield County is a program of GCE, [and] CLEER is contracted to run the programs of GCE.” He continued, “The Town of Carbondale is a member of GCE. Separately, [the town] contracts with CLEER to run its own clean energy programs. While Solarize isn’t technically a [Town of Carbondale] program, it supports the town’s long-term goal of being 100% carbon neutral by 2050.”
Maisa Metcalf, CLEER’s director of consumer engagement, hopes that the Solarize program will “inspire [those] who have been thinking about going solar to take action now.” And, indeed, it has. “Close to 300 people have already signed up [i.e., expressed interest] for the program,” she noted. “And about a dozen have signed installation contracts, including three in Carbondale” since March 1.
As part of the Solarize launch, CLEER hosted a Zoom webinar on March 4, which introduced Rich Clubine, vice president of Active Energies Solar, based in Avon. Active Energies was selected by Solarize to be the sole installer for the program. Clubine described in detail the various steps involved with installing residential solar arrays, noting, “We handle everything for you.”
First, after a homeowner signs up for the program (via the GCE website; see below), an Active Energies technician determines what level of power generation is needed – typically seven 11-kilowatts for a residence but no more than 120% of the home’s overall electricity usage.
An on-site evaluation is then scheduled, first to determine the feasibility of installing solar panels, and then to estimate the cost of installation. Once the owner signs a contract, Clubine estimated installation would take place six to seven weeks after approval is given by the municipality. The work itself will take one to two days typically, and, after it is completed, an additional day or two will be needed for inspection and certification before it is operational.
Although the price is relatively high – in the neighborhood of $15,000-$25,000, depending on the size of the array – Metcalf pointed out that the cost is approximately 80% lower than a decade ago. “We use panels manufactured by Solar Edge,” Clubine explained. “In addition to being cheaper and more efficient [than earlier panels], they are all black,” as opposed to the grid pattern of older models. He added that financing will be available.
Clubine anticipated that nearly all installations will be on rooftops, noting that Colorado law requires property owners to allow them. Ground arrays, however, are not only more expensive to install but may be subject to restrictions by homeowners’ associations or other entities.
By bundling a large number of installations under one program, Active Energies can offer below-market rates on installation (about $2.80 per kilowatt), as well as rebates based on the total number of kilowatts installed during the Solarize project. The highest rebate amount will be $500 per installation if the overall total reaches a million kilowatts or more.
As an added incentive, those participating in the Solarize program can receive rebates from the Holy Cross Energy and Glenwood Springs Electric utilities. Xcel Energy is not offering rebates, but those customers can apply for a limited number of $1,500 rebates through Solarize. Finally, homeowners installing solar arrays this year and next will be eligible for federal tax credits of up to 26% of the project’s cost.
During a Q&A session, Clubine was asked about the relationship between the solar arrays and utilities. “Colorado has strong ‘net metering’ laws,” he noted, explaining that utilities are required to store energy generated by solar panels and provide power when needed (e.g., at night). Customers are charged only for their “net” energy use – electricity purchased minus that sent to the power grid. Any surplus generated by the solar panels counts as a credit that can be used later.
Another question had to do with power outages. Clubine explained that power must be shut down in the grid until repairs are made. Thus, the solar array won’t work unless the customer purchases a separate backup battery system. He added, “A 10-kilowatt system costs in the $10,000-$12,000 range.”
Metcalf noted a strong interest in batteries. “Seven of the dozen contracts so far include [them], and CLEER is planning a follow-up webinar on battery storage.”
The Solarize program sign-up runs until June 4. To learn more, contact GCE at garfieldcleanenergy.org/solarize or call CLEER at 970-704-9200.

It takes community support to keep The Sopris Sun shining.

Donate >