To our American readers: Happy Independence Day!

New Question
How long have you had a solar energy system?

Surveys run for two weeks. Look for results in the July 11 SUN-Enews.

Survey Results
My greatest solar interest is:
75 readers responded

This poll is intended to be anecdotal rather than scientific and should not be interpreted to be representative of all SUN-Enews readers.

SolFest 2003
SolFest is an annual renewable-energy festival organized by the Solar Living Institute. SolFest 2003 is slated for Aug, 23 and 24 at the 12-acre Real Goods Solar Living Center in Hopland, CA, 94 miles north of San Francisco. Plans are for the best-ever weekend of education mixed with fun. At SolFest, you can:

• Experience firsthand the latest renewable energy technologies and healthy lifestyle practices;

• Meet kindred spirits working on the cutting edge of technology to pioneer innovative solutions and sustainable lifestyles;

• Find out what's hot in renewable energy systems (such as solar roofing);

• Learn about hydrogen fuel cells as well as efficient, environmentally sound building materials.

SolFest 2003 highlights will include a special focus on alternative fuels, including hydrogen and the increasingly popular biodiesel. In addition, workshop categories have been expanded to include a designated Food and Farming series of informative one-hour presentations throughout the weekend. A sampling of other workshop titles scheduled for 2003 includes Fuel Cells and Marketplace Challenges, Off-Grid Financing, Cob and Strawbale Construction, Solar Hot Water, Wabi Sabi for Westerners, Practical Hydrogen, Building with a Conscience, Bringing Nature Home and Saving Money from Solar Tax Rebates.

Keynote speakers this year include columnist and radio commentator Jim Hightower; author, activist and renowned eco-psychology pioneer David Orr (author of Earth Literacy and Earth in Mind) from Oberlin College in Ohio; Granny D (aka Doris Haddock), a long-time activist who received widespread recognition in 1999 for her walk across the U.S. at age 90 to draw attention to campaign finance reform; activist and author Starhawk, just back from Israel and Palestine; environmentalist and activist Julia Butterfly Hill, who lived on a 200-foot-tall ancient redwood tree for two years; actor Ed Begley, and Mollie Katzen, author of The Moosewood Cookbook. Also presenting will be Neil Rossmeissl, who has been working on hydrogen technologies and issues at the U.S. Department of Energy since 1993.

This year's entertainment includes East Texas musician and songwriter Michelle Shocked, local folk legend Holly Near with pianist Adrienne Torf, balladeer Jim Page, Tai ko drumming by Dance Brigade, northern California festival favorites !Akimbo, the original flamenco jazz reggae music of Alma Melodioso and a character created by former Solar Living Institute volunteer Lindsay Hassett, Betty Biodiesel.

SolFest is a family affair with more programs and workshops for children added each year. Activities and art projects that cater to their special brand of curiosity guarantee that parents will be able to stay as long as they like.

Established in 1998 as a spin-off from Real Goods Trading Company, the Solar Living Institute is a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable living through environmental education. The institute provides one- to nine-day workshops on renewable energy, green building, sustainable living, ecological design and alternative construction methods. In 2003, with a grant from the California Energy Commission, the institute is conducting 22 solar-installer training workshops in the state. For more information on the Solar Living Institute or SolFest 2003, go to www.solarliving.org.

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It is easy to be independent when you've got money. But to be independent when you haven't got a thing—that's the Lord's test.
-- Mahalia Jackson, American singer

New Question
I'm interested in comments from people who use a tracker. Do you think it was worth the investment?
-- Mary Ann Standiford, Provo, UT
Do you have an answer? Send it here and please include your name, business affiliation if applicable and location (town and state/province/country). Thanks!

Previous Question
Q1, Vol. I, Issue 11
I'm in the research phase of designing a swimming pool and attached spa. I would like to make sure the entire operation is handled with alternative energy. Because a swimming pool requires different processes to keep it clean, warm and sanitary I was wondering if there are any pump manufacturers of automatic pool cleaners, automatic pool covers, heaters (for both the pool and spa), etc. that are designing products for this market?
-- Joe Rodriguez, Memphis, TN

A1, Vol. I, Issue 11
I personally specify Dankoff products. In my experience their pumps work years after competitors' pumps quit. I always specify two circuits: heating and filtering, with the pumps in direct drive. That way, there are no controls, batteries, etc. The water starts circulating when the sun comes up; i.e., at the time it is needed—when the sun breaks down the chemicals and starts heating the water. When the sun sets, the pumps stop, the water check valves allow air to enter and the solar collectors drain, which prevents freezing. It's very simple, reliable and consequently economical.

There are 12-volt ionizators available, but no pool covers to my knowledge. It would be possible to convert an automatic solar gate opener to use as a pool cover actuator, but I do not believe sales would warrant a commercial development.

The high energy required for hot tub jets does not allow an economical solar solution. The most practical process would be to run a generator for the length of time you desire water jet massage.
-- Jerry Kubias, Aquarius Enterprises, Vail, AZ

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2003 Solar Energy Society of Canada Conference
Queen's University in Kingston will host the 2003 Solar Energy Society of Canada Conference Aug. 18-20. Located within easy reach of Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal, the city of Kingston currently is experiencing a groundswell of activity in the renewable and alternate energy sector. With assets including ample wind and sunshine, top educational institutions, a well-established solar energy research laboratory and an active cluster of alternative energy entrepreneurs and investors, the timing and location of the event could not be better.

The conference will run Aug. 18-20, with workshops scheduled Aug. 16 and 17 and a trade show on Aug. 18 and 19. For more information, go to www.solarenergysociety.ca/sesci03.

Nextek Makes New Appointments
Nextek Power Systems, Inc. has appointed William McDonough as chairman of its advisory board. McDonough, a world-renowned architect and designer, has been named "A Hero of the Planet" by Time magazine, and does strategic green planning for corporations around the world, including Ford Motor Company, Nike and others.

Nextek Power Systems, a Long Island company, was the first to develop a multi-source power module that allows for the direct coupling of DC sources of power such as solar panels and small wind turbines to electronic loads in buildings, such as lights, computers and phone systems.

McDonough said a constant goal in his architecture firm's designs is to better integrate energy from the sun and the wind "into everything we do."

"I am pleased to help plan Nextek's growth, starting with my new headquarters in Charlottesville," said McDonough, adding, "These are the world's most abundant resources, and wherever we can connect them directly into our buildings' design, I'd say it's a delightful obligation."

Mark Robinson

In related news, Nextek announced that that Mark Robinson has joined its team as vice president of sales and marketing. Robinson was formerly president of The Energy Grid, a consulting firm to the renewable energy industry and director of customer service and information systems at inverter manufacturer Advanced Energy, Inc. He came to the renewable energy industry from the computer field, where he established a leading Boston-area consulting firm. Robinson holds a business management degree from the University of Southern New Hampshire as well as several Microsoft certifications and is a licensed master electrician.

Chicago Solar Homes Grow
As part of its comprehensive clean energy program in the Chicago region, Environmental Resources Trust (ERT), a national nonprofit catalyst for renewable energy development, is launching a project to construct 100 solar homes in Chicago. The first 10 homes will be built this fall, with all 100 to be completed by 2004.

ERT (The Environmental Resources Trust, Inc.) is a Washington, DC-based, nonprofit organization that uses market forces to protect and improve the global environment. Founded in 1996, with the assistance of the Environmental Defense Fund, ERT is harnessing the power of markets to address the challenges of tempering climate change, securing clean and reliable power, and encouraging environmentally beneficial land use.

ERT is not an advocacy organization, and has no political affiliation. ERT implements economic ideas that address today's environmental challenges, using the organization's nonprofit status to take risks, produce results, and publicize successes.

To send solar energy news, click here.

ACRE Repeats Leadership Conference
The American Council for Renewable Energy (ACRE) has announced its second annual national leadership conference, to be held July 8-9, 2003 in Washington, D.C. ACRE covers solar energy, wind power, hydropower, ocean power, geothermal energy, waste-to-energy, biomass energy, and biofuels as they apply to electricity, hydrogen, fuels and end-use energy.

Among the keynote speakers is U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Kyle McSlarrow. On July 8 McSlarrow will give one of the Bush administration's first statements on its renewable energy strategy in the context of national energy policy. Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Linda Fisher delivers a keynote address on July 9, addressing the agency's commitments to renewable energy and green power markets through public-private partnerships.

Steven Zwolinsky, president of GE Wind Energy, will give the dinner speech on July 8, highlighting GE's renewable-energy businesses and communications strategy.

The theme of the conference is Renewable Energy in America—Building National Strategy on State and Local Successes. The conference will highlight successful strategies with senior speakers from New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, Kansas, Texas, Nevada and California. The conference also will call attention to the opportunity for federal support of state and local initiatives—potentially a new policy arena. Congressional leaders have been invited, including U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle, D-SD, speaking on renewable fuels and U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-LA, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, speaking on the energy bill.

A panel on renewable energy's role in national energy security will feature Jim Woolsey, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency; C. Boyden Gray, former White House counsel to President G.H.W. Bush; Bud McFarlane, former national security advisor to President Ronald Reagan, and John Podesta, former chief of staff to President Bill Clinton.

An international panel will include Wolfgang Palz, longtime renewable energy leader in the European Commission; Hermann Scheer, a widely acknowledged solar energy leader in Europe; Reinhard Buetikofer, chairman of the Green Party of Germany, and Gilbert Parent, ambassador for the environment and former speaker of the house of Canada.

A finance panel will feature speakers from Perseus Capital, Draper Fischer Jurvetson, Winslow Management, J.P. Morgan Chase, the Francisco Public Utilities Commission and Baker & McKenzie.

ACRE's membership covers eight circles: industry, end users, finance, professional services, media, education, nonprofit organizations, associations and government. In related news, CRE announced its 100th member, the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA). "We see the American Council for Renewable Energy as an important part of our future, bringing all of the renewable energy interests into one group," said Karl Gawell, executive director of the GEA.

The conference will be held July 8-10 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 400 New Jersey Ave., Washington DC. Additional information is available at www.americanrenewables.org/conference2003.html.

For news on other renewables, click here.

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Experience Solar Culture in Nicaragua
Grupo Fenix invites interested parties to participate directly in an 11-day workshop/tour in which participants learn about solar energy systems, study applications specific to central America, visit renewable energy installations and install a PV lighting system in a rural village.

The program includes recreational and cultural activities as well as excursions. The next 10-day workshop is Aug. 5-15, but another session is planned for January 2004. The January course will be taught in English (although Spanish ability greatly enhances your experience of Nicaragua). The cost of the entire trip, excluding airfare and airport expenses, is $850 per person, which includes a $200 subsidy towards solar equipment for the village where students work. Another $100 goes to improvement funds in the barrio and villages areas where Fenix is working. The extra cost for staying on longer should amount to around $25 per day, depending on the type of activities and accommodations.

Americans don't often think twice about turning on the light switch. But for more than 60 percent of Nicaragua's rural population, this is not even possible; they have no electricity. Grupo Fenix was started in 1996 by a group of enthusiastic engineering students and Prof. Susan Kinne at the National Engineering University (Universidad Nacional de Ingeneria or UNI). They chose the name "Grupo Fenix" after the mythical bird of Egyptian sun worship, the Phoenix, which is forever renewed. This was a perfect symbol for a group focused on researching and promoting the use of renewable energy sources. It also expressed the hope of these young Nicaraguans that their poor, strife-torn country would rise from the ashes of war and build an enlightened society. Kinne contacted Richard Komp, PhD. in Maine. Dr. Komp had been a proponent of solar energy since the 1960s and continues this passion as the president of the Maine Solar Energy Association and of his small company, SunWatt Corp. Komp, a chief technical adviser, will lead the January workshop. For more information on this work, go to www.grupofenix.org.

Solar Glossary
A short list of common terms:
Passive solar—Harvesting the sun's radiant heat through greenhouse windows, Trombe walls, transpired solar walls, brick floors and other non-electric uses.

Solar hot water—Sometimes called solar thermal; usually involves storing solar energy in a heat storage device to heat water for household or commercial use. It also can be used to heat a home through baseboard radiators or embedded floor tubing, as well as to heat and cool swimming pools.

Solar electric—Using the sun's energy to run electrical systems, excluding electric heating elements.

Grid-tied and off the grid—Remaining on the electric grid after converting to a solar-electric system is called "grid-tied." A solar electric system that stands alone and is not connected to the electric utility is considered "off the grid."

Net metering—When you convert to solar energy and remain hooked to the larger electric utility, you have an automatic backup if your solar system does not generate as much electric power as you need to use on any given day. On the other hand, most of the time your solar system will generate more power than you are using, and will let that generation flow into the larger electric "grid." Most states now have "net metering" laws that allow you to connect your renewable energy system to the grid and bank your electrons there, literally making your meter spin backward and reducing your electric bill, often to a credit rather than a debit charge. To download a table of state net metering programs, click here.

To submit a news item or tip for people beginning to explore the world of solar energy, click here.

UPEx 2003
The industry's top solar power experience conference, presented by the Solar Electric Power Association with the Solar Energy Industries Association, will be Oct. 7-10 at the Marriott Mountain Shadows Resort in Scottsdale, AZ. With the theme Building the Future: Business and State Strategies for Solar Energy, UPEx 2003 will feature a broad group of companies, government agencies, associations and individuals with solar interest and experience beyond the immediate solar community.

Some highlights will include:

• Power for Critical Resources and Energy Security;

• Home Builders: Building PV into New Homes;

• Broader Renewable Mandates and the Role of PV;

• Structuring State Solar Programs: RPSs, buy-downs and other options;

• Off-Grid: Providing Power Where There Is No Grid;

• Creative Business Partnership Models;

• Utility-Scale Solar;

• Sustainable Zero Energy Buildings, and

• Student Programs: University, High School Level and below

There also will be tours hosted by the Salt River Project. Get more information at www.solarelectricpower.org/upex/default.cfm.

First Solar Starts German Subsidiary
Perrysville, OH-based First Solar, Inc., a leader in the development and manufacture of high-quality, high-performance solar modules, has announced the formation of a new, wholly owned subsidiary company, First Solar, GmbH, based in Erfurt, Germany.

First Solar also announced the appointment of Dr. Rainer Gegenwart as managing director of the new company. First Solar, GmbH will focus on supporting the needs of major solar product distributors and solar power plant project developers in Germany.

To submit a news item or tip for users or providers experienced in solar energy use, click here.

SUN-Enews has created four directories (with links) on our website, www.SUN-Enews.com. There is a nominal fee for listing, to cover costs of content management. These directories are always growing. To find out more about listing in one of our directories, click here.

• Employment

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SUN-Enews has created two calendars that run in monthly segments on the website, www.SUN-Enews.com. The May calendars list (1) meetings of non-profit associations, and (2) trade shows.

To list your meeting, conference or trade show in the July 2003 calendars click here. Include the name of your association or trade show, date, meeting place (building), town and state/province/country. Also include an email contact, please. Submit July items by June 30. Thanks!

A Current of Energy—Using the Ocean
The world's first marine renewable energy system of significant size to be installed in a genuine offshore location has been built successfully about three kilometers northeast of Lynmouth in North Devon, England. This is a completely new kind of energy system, using the almost limitless energy of flowing sea currents. According to Marine Current Turbines (MCT), the owner and developer of the technology, it is the most powerful device of its kind installed so far, with a rated power of 300 kW. That makes it potentially capable of meeting the average electricity needs of 200 typical United Kingdom (UK) households.

The turbine is the culmination of the "Seaflow" project, a £3.5 (US$3.5) million project that is being conducted by an industrial consortium of UK and German companies and supported by the UK Department of Trade and Industry, the Joule Program of the European Commission and the German government. The project is aimed at testing the prototype turbine, and demonstrating technology that will be developed to a commercially viable stage by MCT during the next few years.

The Seaflow Project represents the first phase of a comprehensive research and development program intended to develop technology for exploiting the energy of marine tidal currents. Rotors are mounted on steel piles (tubular steel columns) set into a socket drilled into the seabed. The rotors are driven by the flow of water in much the same way that windmill rotors are driven by the wind, the main difference being that water is more than 800 times as dense as air, so very slow velocities in water still generate significant amounts of power. This projectessentially is an underwater "windmill" that can generate a maximum of 300 kW in a 2.7m/s current (5.5 knots). The energy generated has the added significant advantage of being predictable, because it is derived from tides.

Previous marine renewable energy systems, whether using tidal or wave energy, have been located either onshore or in sheltered, largely land-locked waters. MCT says this project marks a new stage for marine energy technology—moving for the first time into the harsher, energy-rich environment in which it needs to operate.

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FYI

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