Solar thermal is used for harnessing solar energy to generate heat for use in industry, and in the residential and commercial sectors

Solar thermal energy: An industry with untapped potential

When we think about the energy transition, the first images that come to mind might be of roofs covered with solar PV panels, a windfarm – either on land or in the sea – or maybe even electric vehicles. But one technology is often overlooked and underfunded: solar thermal, which is used for harnessing solar energy to generate heat for use in industry, and in the residential and commercial sectors. At a time when the EU is planning to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels before 2030, experts in solar thermal energy emphasise the importance of including this technology into the energy mix.

Following the invasion of Ukraine, the case for a rapid, clean energy transition has never been stronger and clearer. The EU imports 90 per cent of its gas consumption, with Russia providing around 45 per cent of those imports in varying levels across Member States. The EU initiative REPowerEU will seek to diversify gas supplies, accelerate the green transition and replace gas in heating and power generation.

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Source: Climate-KIC

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Google's Mountain View, CA offices feature curved roofs and textured solar panels that optimize the hours they can generate electricity.

At Google’s new campus, ‘dragonscale’ solar panels capture sunlight from all different angles

At Google’s newly opened campus in Mountain View, California, it isn’t immediately obvious that the roofs are covered in solar panels. But the sprawling canopies on each building—looking a little like futuristic circus tents—are covered in 50,000 small, silver-colored “dragonscale” photovoltaic panels, shaped to optimize the times they can generate solar power throughout the day.

It’s part of an approach that the company, along with architects from Bjarke Ingels Group and Heatherwick Studio, took to making the new campus, which covers more than a million square feet, as sustainable as possible. In an area currently undergoing a severe drought, it’s designed to save water. A massive geothermal system, the largest in North America, makes it possible to heat and cool the buildings without fossil fuels. The landscaping helps support biodiversity. The buildings’ solar skins, along with local wind power, will help the campus work toward Google’s goal of running on 100% renewable power, 24-7, by the end of the decade. (Right now, it runs on 90% renewable power.)

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Source: Fast Company

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Ford SA’s assembly plant is now generating 35% of its electricity needs onsite from a newly commissioned 13.5 MW solar carport system.

Ford switches on solar carport to power 35% of South Africa factory

Ford South Africa’s assembly plant is now generating 35% of its electricity needs onsite from a newly commissioned 13.5 MW solar carport system. Through a long term Power Purchase Agreement with SolarAfrica, Ford will offset a significant amount of CO2 from the electricity it consumes from South Africa’s predominantly coal-powered grid. According to an announcement by Ford South Africa, 30,226 solar panels make up the large arrays covering carports for 3,610 vehicles at the Silverton assembly plant in Pretoria. The 13.5MW plant is one of the largest solar PV carports in the world and builds onto the Ford Motor Company’s global targets to use 100% carbon-free electricity across its manufacturing operations by 2035, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

“We are delighted to officially flip the switch and begin receiving 35 percent of our electricity from the solar carports with the completion of the first phase of our Project Blue Oval renewable energy programme,” says Ockert Berry, VP Operations, Ford South Africa. “This project proudly puts the Silverton Assembly Plant on the map as part of Ford’s commitment to sustainability as we migrate our energy supply from fossil fuels to environmentally-friendly, renewable resources.”

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Source: Clean Technica

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12,000 solar panels, the size of 4 football pitches floating on Portugal's Alqueva reservoir will produce enough energy to power 1,500 homes.

Biggest ‘floating solar park’ in Europe will open this year in Portugal

Europe’s largest floating solar park will take shape in July this year, in Portugal’s Alqueva reservoir.

Two tugboats are currently moving a vast array of 12,000 solar panels, the size of four football pitches, to their mooring on the reservoir.

Built by EDP, the country’s main utility company, on Western Europe’s biggest artificial lake, the shiny floating island is part of Portugal’s plan to cut reliance on imported fossil fuels whose prices have surged since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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Source: Euronews

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To stand apart from the competition, one popular strategy of many craft breweries is to invest in onsite renewable energy.

6 craft breweries pairing solar power with suds

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As the number of craft breweries in the U.S. continues to grow, with more than 9,000 counted in 2021 by the Brewers Association, companies are looking for ways to stand apart from the competition. One strategy gaining popularity is investing in onsite renewable energy. Many breweries use “solar-powered beer” as a marketing tool and sometimes even name certain brews after solar power, like Minnesota brewery Invictus Brewing Company’s new “1.7 Million Megawatts Summer Ale.”

Here are six breweries that have added solar power in the last few years:

  • Lawson’s Finest Liquids in Vermont
  • Ithaca Beer company in New York
  • Ferus Artisan Ales in Alabama
  • Rock Art Brewery in Vermont
  • Lagunitas Brewing Company in California
  • Firestone Walker Brewing Company in California

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Source: Solar Power World

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World’s largest solar-powered carport launched

A 35 MW solar power carport with 90,000 solar panels was launched the first week of May in the Netherlands. Biddinghuizen is the solar carport location, which is the same site for the annual Lowlands music festival. The festival receives tens of thousands of visitors each year, so the parking area covers 35 hectares and provides 15,000 parking spaces. Carports are typically effective sites for solar power installations because they provide flat surfaces that aren’t being used for anything else, so it is not necessary to use any additional land.

Solarfields, a company based in the Netherlands, installed the solar power system and made it operational. (The company has a goal that about one million Dutch homes will have sustainable electricity by 2030.)

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Source: Clean Technica

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Digital Realty unveiled two power purchase agreements (PPAs) for 158 MW of solar energy in California and Georgia.

Digital Realty to source 158 MW of solar in California, Georgia

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US data centres outfit Digital Realty (NYSE:DLR) today unveiled two power purchase agreements (PPAs) for 158 MW of solar energy in California and Georgia as a step toward 100% renewable electricity.

One of the deals is a 12-year contract that will support a new 130-MW solar project in Kern County, California being developed by US renewables developer Terra-Gen as part of its Edwards Sanborn Solar Storage energy project. The solar-plus-storage facility is expected to be completed late this year.

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Source: Renewables Now

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Students invent solar vaccine storage system for Sub-Saharan locales

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MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – A team of four SUNY Orange engineering sciences students is among a dozen teams announced as finalists Wednesday (April 27) for the 2022 Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC) organized by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The CCIC is a national competition where community college student teams use science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to innovate solutions to real-world problems.

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Source: The Photo News

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Solar growth is spreading into new U.S. markets as developers tackle grid challenges and new demand pockets open up in central states.Panel The Planet

ForeFront Power installs 1.4-MW solar + storage system for California school district

ForeFront Power has partnered with Newark Unified School District in California to install a 1.4-MW solar energy and storage system at Newark Memorial High School and Newark Junior High School.

“Seeing this solar portfolio live and operational is like looking into the future of our District,” said Mark Triplett, Newark USD Superintendent. “Not only are we leading by example through our environmental stewardship, but the cost savings from our new solar energy and storage system will help us fund and expand new educational programs to enhance the quality of learning for all our students. Locking in rates through on-site solar and battery storage in an era of rising costs helps us better leverage taxpayer dollars to serve our students and their families.”

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Source: Solar Power World

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Sheep and solar panels: using solar sites for pastureland

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A solar power boom generated by new renewable energy mandates is unfurling in the Chesapeake Bay region. Virginia, for example, was ninth in the nation for new solar capacity in 2021.

With many solar arrays ending up on farmland, a movement is fast taking hold to make sure that they will benefit the environment, agriculture and wildlife, and not just create a sea of silicon.

Allowing sheep to graze among solar panels has become one attractive antidote.

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Source: Bay Journal

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