UC Berkeley releases new report on environmental impacts of concentrating photovoltaic systems

Sunday, 7.17.2011 - 20:02 (Solarserver)

On July 13th, 2011, the University of California at Berkeley (Berkeley, California, U.S.) and the CPV Consortium (Sacramento, California, U.S.) announced the release of a new report which finds that concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) systems use less land, water and materials than other solar technologies. The organizations state that "An Assessment of the Environmental Impacts of Concentrator Photovoltaics and Modeling of Concentrator Photovoltaic Deployment Using the SWITCH Model" examines CPV technology throughout its life cycle, looking at energy payback, embedded greenhouse gases, and cradle-to-cradle footprint. Read more

DOI approves large PV, CSP plants and transmission project, amends plans for solar energy zones

Sunday, 7.17.2011 - 20:01 (Solarserver)

On July 14th, 2011, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced approval of two solar projects totaling 450 MW and a major transmission project, all in California, as well as a supplement to the agency's rules for solar energy development on public lands in six Western states. The agency approved the 250 MW Abengoa Mojave Solar Project, a parabolic trough concentrating solar power (CSP) project, the Imperial Solar Energy Center, a 200 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project, and the Devers-Palo Verde No. 2 Transmission Line Project. Read more

Brookings report notes dynamic job growth in solar industries

Sunday, 7.17.2011 - 20:00 (Solarserver)

On July 13th, 2011, Brookings Institution (Washington D.C., U.S.) announced the release of a report analyzing job creation and other aspects of the low-carbon economy in the United States, which concludes that this sector employs 2.7 million American workers across a diverse group of industries. "Sizing the Clean Economy" also reports that U.S. solar thermal jobs have grown at an average annual rate of 18.4% since 2001, with PV jobs growing 10.7% annually since 2005. Read more