Category Archives: Renewables and Energy

Solar Generator Made Into an Artistic Design of a Tree

Posted on January 2, 2012 | Leave a comment

The Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center is now the home of a new, state-of-the-art, fully functional solar generator in the artistic design of a tree.

At first sight, the illuminated “tree” appears to be an art installation. But there is much more at work than simple aesthetic design in this new invention dreamed up and created right here in Long Beach.

The Solarflora was manufactured locally by Long Beach-based Nectar Design and was installed in February, according to information provided by Nectar Design’s Bob Westal. It blends solar energy panels into outdoor public spaces by creating an aesthetically pleasing medium for mounting solar panels in plain view.

The generator can house up to four solar panels and supply as much as 1.2 kilowatt hours per day while providing nighttime illumination, Westal said. It also features outlets located near seating for charging electronic items such as laptops, phones, Segways and electric bicycles.

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

Sempra Expands Solar Plants in Nevada

Posted on December 30, 2011 | Leave a comment

San Diego-based Sempra Generation has begun construction on a solar power plant in Nevada that will supply enough power to offset electricity consumption by 45,000 households.

Northern California utility Pacific Gas and Electric will buy that electricity under a 25-year power purchase agreement approved last week by the California Public Utilities Commission. Terms of the agreement will not be made public until at least three years after the solar project’s completion.

The 150-megawatt plant, called Copper Mountain 2, will stand next to an existing 50-megawatt facility at Boulder City, between Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam. Flat land, high-desert sunlight and major electrical transmission lines make the location especially attractive to developers of utility-scale solar.

The project is likely to receive significant federal and state subsidies, but it will also provide a steady revenue stream to Boulder City, which leases the site.

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only.

Solar Factory Coming to San Diego – 450 New Jobs

Posted on December 18, 2011 | Leave a comment

French semiconductor maker Soitec will locate a new solar power factory in Rancho Bernardo and bring 450 new jobs to the area, according to two sources involved with the transaction.

The deal between Soitec and Sony Electronics Inc. for Sony’s former Vaio laptop production plant at 16550 Via Esprillo was not quite final, according to a Sony Electronics spokesman and a Cushman & Wakefield broker who listed the property. But Soitec sent invitations to local clean tech entrepreneurs and scholars in the clean tech industry for a dedication on Dec. 16. The exact location was withheld until a later date.