Life Saving Solar

Portable Solar Units help to keep Marines safe in Afghanistan.

To say that the Sangin district in Afghanistan is a hostile environment would be an understatement. British forces attempted to take control of the area for several years, but sustained heavy losses and recently handed over the area to US troops. The terrain is rough, the inhabitants belligerent and the elements harsh. The one thing it has in abundance is sunshine. Innovative personnel from the 3rd Battalion and 5th Marine Regiment have found a way to turn the blazing sun into a life-saving asset.

ExFOB – the Environmental Forward Operating Base – which consists of a number of portable solar units, provides personnel with a reliable source of energy. Energy is supplied by the following portable solar units:

• Radios are powered by Solar Portable Alternate Communication Systems (SPACES) which are flexible, portable solar panels that can be carried in a pack.
• Lighting in tents is provided by PowerShade – a tarp made of solar material that fits over the tent.
• Computers are powered by Ground Renewable Expeditionary Energy Systems (GREENS) which are portable solar units that are easy to assemble and transport,
• The majority of the base’s power is provided by a ZeroBase Regenerator – a portable solar array capable of sustaining 20 lighting systems and 15 computers.

Aside from the positive environmental benefits and reductions in fuel costs, ExFOB portable solar units supply personnel with essential energy for logistics and communications. The 20 gallons of fuel utilized daily have been reduced to 2.5 gallons. This significantly curtails the number of supply convoys needed; providing fewer opportunities for convoy drivers to fall victim to IEDs. Since Marines have to carry less fuel and fewer generators, they have more space for supplies and ammunition. They are more mobile and have a constant, reliable source of energy. The sound of running generators carries in the barren landscapes of Sangin. Noiseless solar panels help to conceal the position of the base. All these factors contribute to saving lives.

Photo by Gunnery Sergeant William Price

Major General Sadlier said of the units using this experimental technology: “The Marines were very innovative and came up with ways to use the equipment that was not even thought of before their employment.” In the hands of capable Marines, portable solar units are kicking ass and taking names.

Germany: A shining Example of Solar Success

How Germany’s Feed-in-Tariff System has Saved Over 52 Million Tons of Carbon Dioxide

There’s more to Germany than beer and bratwurst ̶ it is also the greenest country in Europe. The German government had enough insight to start a feed-in-tariff system in the late nineties. The feed-in-tariff system, also employed in Ontario, provides subsidies for business and home owners who install solar power systems. The property owner contacts a local solar installer to fit a 10kW photovoltaic solar power system to their roof. The solar power system is connected to the grid and the property owner is paid handsomely for the energy their system provides. Feed-in-tariff schemes boost local solar installers (in Ontario, 60% of the solar power system must be locally manufactured,) which drives solar prices down. In 2010 alone, new solar power systems contributed an additional 8 gigawatts of energy to the German grid. The feed-in-tariff scheme has been a huge success in Germany which now produces 12% of its energy from renewable sources. This is expected to increase to 20% by 2014. The industry has created a quarter of a million jobs locally. Towns compete to be the most eco-friendly. The town of Freiberg (population 200 000) alone produces as much energy from solar power systems as the whole of Britain. It’s not even the most solarific town in Germany ̶ the town of Ulm has that distinction. This kind of competition has led to the cost of solar power systems being halved in the last seven years.

On Thursday, Germany announced that it will cut its feed-in-tariff rates by up to 16%. The proposed cut in subsidies will see a boom for industry in the first half of the year as Germans scramble to take advantage of the subsidies before the cuts become effective July 1st. Participants in the feed-in-tariff system sign a 20 year contract with the government, thereby ensuring the rates over that period. The cut in subsidies will see a reduction in the number of solar power system installations leading to the closures of local businesses and the loss of jobs. This boom and bust cycle created by subsidies in the green industry places the government at the centre of a delicate balancing act.

The fledgling feed-in-tariff (or microFIT) subsidies in Ontario have been equally well received. The generous rates offered for electricity produced by solar power systems, as well as a reduction in the costs of these systems, makes it a no-brainer for property owners. The government has, however, made it abundantly clear that Ontarians will not enjoy the subsidies for long. Plans to curb Ontario microFIT rates could be implemented as soon as next year.

Solar Flares in 2012

How an Increase in Solar Energy May Affect Your Electricity Supply

The world is going to end on 21 December 2012. That’s according to Nostradamus, New Age theorists, people who channel aliens, the History Channel and the Mayans. The causes vary; some say the Mayan Long Count Calendar ends on 21 December and that this spells an apocalyptic wiping of the slate. Scientists claim we are in for a tsunami of super volcanoes, earthquakes, solar storms and magnetic pole reversal. Add this together and you have the makings of a Hollywood movie (whose ominous by-line reads “We were warned.”) The only scientific proof, however, of imminent apocalypse is the prediction of the solar flare storm of 2012.

Mausami Dikpaki of the National Centre for Atmospheric Research claims we are headed for the most intense ‘solar maximum’ (the sun’s 11 year cycle) since 1958. The resultant solar flares will have the energy of 100 billion atomic bombs. The flares produce a surge in electrons in the outer layers of the atmosphere. There are many consequences: the destruction of satellites and interference of radio waves may lead to a breakdown in communication. Solar storms may produce currents on earth which have the possibility of overloading national grids. In 1989, surges in currents from solar flares left 6 million people without electricity in Quebec. Predictions of the impact of solar flares range from a couple of hours of cell phone and electrical disruption to complete overload of electrical systems, the collapse of communication systems and a loss of all equipment containing computer chips including vehicles. The time frame to recover from such an occurrence ranges around the 10 year mark.

These predictions have led many to invest in alternate energy sources such a solar. In Ontario the microFIT program, which was created to increase investment in solar power systems, has met with unprecedented success. Local solar installers are struggling to keep up with the increase in demand for solar power systems. While some take these predictions seriously, most feel that the theories of an apocalypse in 2012 will come to as much fruition as those of Y2K. Although they agree that 2012 will see a marked increase in solar activity, there is no agreement in the scientific community on what the consequences will be.

Make ‘SUN MONEY’ in 4 easy steps

Are you looking to make hay while the sun shines? With government rebates and microFIT incentives, solar panel systems will make Sun Money for you. If you are worried that the process of installing a solar panel system is too complex or too expensive, think again. Here’s how to install a solar panel system in 4 easy steps.

Step 1: Is your Home Suitable for a Solar Panel System?

The best way to ascertain the suitability of your home for a solar panel system is to conduct a solar audit. With a little research you can do this yourself, but most solar installers will provide the service free of charge. A solar audit will ensure that:

• Your roof is in good condition and is not in need of re-shingling or repair.
• That you have enough space for a solar panel system.
• That a portion of your roof is south facing and that this portion is free from shading by trees and other buildings.

Step 2: Information is Key

• Research your financial options. Many financial institutes will provide financing for such an endeavour. Some neighbourhoods will collaborate with a solar panel system installer to get better prices on group deals.
• Ask neighbours who have solar panel systems about their experiences.
• Get quotes from local solar installers.
• If you live in Ontario, you are eligible for the microFIT program which provides fantastic incentives for solar panel systems. To register for the microFIT program, visit the MymicroFIT web site. Make an online application and receive a conditional offer within 90 days.

Step 3: Don’t stall, install!

Obtain the necessary approvals:

• From your local utility company;
• A building permit from the local municipality and
• An Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) inspection. Most installers will include this.

Your local solar panel system installer will assist you with obtaining permits. Now you are ready for your solar panel system to be installed.

Step 4: Start earning Sun Money.

Once your system is installed you must contact your local distribution company (LDC) and they will send someone to conduct a verification audit to ensure that you have met local system standards. Your LDC will then hook your solar panel system up to the grid and notify the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) that you have met the requirements. The OPA will send you your 20 year contract.

Now you are ready to put Sun Money into your pocket!