Blogs & Ecology

Last week I spoke to a small group of investors about renewable energy, and the potential we see for certain renewable energy stocks in 2009. Now I don't typically do a lot of these types of meetings. Maybe four or five a year. To be honest, I'd rather these folks just read my weekly updates. This way, I don't have to jack up my carbon footprint by flying all over the country. However, for investors that are new to this sector, certainly it helps when you can ask direct questions and get direct answers.

Pickens Meets Obama
Image credit:Cleveland, Real-Time News from Around the Nation

By: Jonathan G. Dorn, Staff Researcher at the Earth Policy Institute, where he works on energy issues.

With the dramatic increase in oil prices earlier this year translating into higher prices at the gas pump in the United States, concerns over U.S. dependence on foreign oil are once again part of the national discussion on energy security.

The German solar panel company SolarWorld has installed solar panels on the roofs of the Vatican. The Pope switched to the system earlier this week and is expected to announce drastic plans to expand on the project. The solar panels are placed on top of the massive roof of the Vatican's Nervi Hall, where the pope receives general audiences.

How, and How Not, to Heat a Swimming Pool Using the Sun
Soundtrack or no soundtrack, who’d have thought that watching water boil could be so interesting? There’s something endearingly geeky about the folks at Green Power Science – from their impressive demonstrations of

Spanish Concentrated Solar Thermal Plants Set to Grow Exponentially

Image: Associated Press (AP)

A Spanish town outside of Barcelona has found a way to make the best of a cramped situation: lacking sufficient flat, sun-soaked land to implement their renewable energy program, they opted to install solar panels in their local cemetery.

TreeHugger readers have a love/hate relationship with London designer Ross Lovegrove; most loved his solar trees and hated his car on a stick. He is at it again with his Alpine Capsule,

A compact shelter where one may spend the evening admiring the stars and the beautiful surrounding mountain range. It would offer the opportunity of overnight stays within a spectacular 360 degree view.

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Courtesy Energy Island

The ninth wind farm in South Australia just opened on the Barunga Ranges near Snowtown. Its 47 turbines, installed by Trust Power of New Zealand, (who already operate that countries largest wind farm at Tararua), are said to have a capacity to deliver over 98MW. The company reckon this renewable energy should provide sufficient power for 70,000 Australian households.

In his inauguration speech, President-Elect Obama said we need an economy that addresses the “new energy to harness and new jobs to be created.” But what are some of the opportunities to watch for? Check out his plan below, and then lets discuss some of the areas that should see increased opportunity.

Obama's proposals are ambitious, and could lead to millions of new green jobs

In anticipation of an Obama victory, investors scooped up insanely cheap renewable energy stocks on the day before and the day of the election. The solar sector saw some of the most impressive gains, with stocks like Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ:ESLR) climbing 44 percent, and Solarfun Power Holdings (NASDAQ:SOLF) picking up 49 percent.

For all the talk of green design and eco lifestyles, it’s odd that Australia has so few events for businesses, organisations and institutions to showcase their wares in this area. Melbourne does have its very well attended Sustainable Living Festival, where last year they also managed to hold the World’s Largest Green Drinks party. But Sydney, while having a few smaller community level green days is not quite so blessed in events that promote the bigger picture.

At least that is what the media releases are saying. Late last month, the Australian Solar Sailor company announced they’d signed a deal with China's biggest shipping line, COSCO, to fit some of their jumbo jet sized solar-powered sails to a tanker and bulk carrier.

The 30 metre long sails, festooned in photovoltaic panels are expected to catch enough wind to reduce fuel costs by between 20% and 40%, whilst those PV cells will provide the ships with 5% of their electricity. A computer automatically angles the sails for maximum wind and solar efficiency, and if all goes to plan the sails will have recovered their initial cost within four years.
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DIY Solar Project Takes Shape
When I wrote about Denise and Dan Rojas’ video of their DIY solar collector they're building from an old satellite dish, commenter Luke asked what they were going to use the thing for. The brief update above gives us some idea, including burning random scraps...