Kuwait house rooftops lead to solar power drive

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states plan to pump up to $100 billion into renewable energy projects over the coming two decades. Leading the investment drive will be Saudi Arabia, along with the UAE and Kuwait, which will look to invest across the energy value chain.

Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) quoted Samira Ahmad Omar, director general of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), as saying that such robust funding aims to meet the growing energy consumption in the GCC states, estimated at 3 per cent a year.

Now Kuwait is planning to boost production of electricity on house roofs through model pilot projects in 150 homes, to be increased to 1,500 in a later stage after 2018, director general of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) Adnan Shihab Eldin has said. The cost of a kilowatt of electricity produced through solar energy is 20 fils (65 cent), It is very competitive, compared to the cost of a kilowatt of traditional electricity produced through fossil fuels, 30 to 40 fils.

Adnan Shihab Eldin highlighted the various renewable energy projects launched by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) such as the 70 MW Shagaya complexes. The government directs part of power subsidy to renewable energy, to raise its share of Kuwait’s production of electricity to 15 per cent, a target set for 2030, he said.

Largest Solar Rooftop in MENA

Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 has already generated a lot of interest and momentum. Solar rooftop systems are going to part of this this clean vision and target. These solar rooftop systems could be set up at residences , commercial buildings , factories and large scale industries and on the airport & bus terminals. The capacities range from a few kilowatts to megawatts.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer , MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has inaugurated one of the largest single rooftop system in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), a 1.5 megawatts solar project at Jebel Ali Power Station and successfully connected to DEWA Grid.

Dewa installed 5,240 photovoltaic panels on the 23,000 square-metres on the roof of the water reservoir at M-Station, which is the newest and largest power production and desalination plant in the UAE. The modules will produce 1.5MW by converting solar energy into electricity, which will be used to meet the station’s energy needs, and will generate 2,666MW/h of clean electricity annually. The project aims to increase dependence on renewable energy, and reduce the carbon emissions produced by different operations at the station, the project also expects to see an annual carbon dioxide reduction of about 1,600 tonnes. Surplus energy will be exported to an internal power network at Dewa’s Jebel Ali unit.

This supports the Shams Dubai initiative , which is in line with the Smart Dubai Initiative launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai to transform Dubai into the Smartest City in the world.

 

Game Changer – ” Holographic Solar Panels “

Today there are thousands of individuals and companies across the globe who are working hard to develop alternative energy solutions for future generations. Solar power is a rapidly developing energy source around the world. The potential for using the sun to directly supply our power needs is huge.

The Process :

Light (photons) striking certain compounds, in particular metals, causes the surface of the material to emit electrons. Light striking other compounds causes the material to accept electrons. It is the combination of these two compounds that can be made use of to cause electrons to flow through a conductor, and thereby create electricity. This phenomenon is called the photo electric effect. Photo-voltaic means sunlight converted into a flow of electrons (electricity).

The Solar Panel :

Solar panels can generate electricity without any waste or pollution, or dependence on the Earths natural resources once they are constructed. Solar panels have no moving parts so they are very reliable and have a long life span. Solar panels are relatively easy to install and are very low maintenance. Almost all of the silicon solar panels on the market are between 10% and 20% efficient, so it is high time for a module that is both constructed from abundant materials and is much more efficient.

The Invention :

Appolon GmBH and Solar Bankers LLC which is based on Arizona, claim that they have developed a new silicon based solar panel with a holographic foil that is twice as efficient as typical models, and that they are so cheap they can be manufactured in Germany or the USA at a lower cost.

They said that their solar modules achieve 28% efficiency, which is considerably higher than the average 17% efficiency on the solar module market. They have done so through advanced Concentrated Solar Photo-voltaic module development in particular, the use of light selection, deflection, and concentration. And the companies expect an even better efficiency soon.

If these companies’ claims are true, then this could also lower the cost of installing solar panels on rooftops, as these would be half the size of typical solar panels, so less labor would be required for installation. This is also very important because installation costs can account for about half of the cost of a solar system.

“City of Kota – The Next Solar Destination”

International Conference on ” City of Kota – The Next Solar Destination “

The city of Kota, in its efforts to move towards using green technologies to nurture a sustainable planet, is unleashing the Solar Energy potential in eastern Rajasthan.

The city of Kota has the two critical resources that are essential for solar power production : high level of solar irradiance and large amount of contiguous, relatively flat undeveloped land. For tapping this enormous potential, City of Kota, in partnership with Cities Network Campaign and The Green Mantra, is organizing the conference on “City of Kota – The Next Solar Destination” from 31st August – 01 September at Kota.

This international conference  is going to be a common dais for the Big Players around the world of Solar Energy and the local government officials. It creates an opportunity to make the State Government and the investors to meet and explore the potential green business opportunities on a common dais.

Key Topics           :

• Solar Technologies
• Solar Applications
• Solar Innovations
• Rooftop Solar
• Rural Electrification
• Solar Project Model
• Solar Land Banks & Solar Parks
• Solar Financing Options and More ..

Event Highlights  :

• 200 + Trade Professionals
• Multiple Networking Opportunities
• Big EPC Players
• Technlogy Providers
• Government Officials
• Bankers & Investors
• Key Discussions

Conference Date : 31 August – 01 September , 2013

Conference Place: Kota , Rajashtan

For more details contact – info@citiesnetworkcampaign.org

World’s first LEED Platinum Soccer Stadium

The sustainable practices adopted in the construction of the National Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brazil earned it the nickname of Eco Arena. It may become the first stadium in the world to be awarded the Platinum LEED seal, which is the top sustainability related certificate. This is the highest certificate awarded by the Green Building Council (GBC).

The Cadmus Group supports green building design and consulting firm Eco Arena in delivering the LEED Platinum certification for the project. The LEED certification process is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2014.

LEED Platinum Status

• A ring of solar photovoltaic panels on the roof provides the stadium’s power.The solar photovoltaic system is estimated to produce 2.8 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, the project is only expected to use approximately 2 million kWh per year. the remaining renewable energy produced will be given back to the city of Brazil.
• A photo catalytic membrane on the roof that captures air pollution as it falls, and breaks down the chemicals, removing them from the atmosphere.
• VIP bicycle parking for 1,000 bikes inside the stadium. There will be 3,500 bike parking spots in total.
• Solar Water Heating system for kitchens , changing rooms and toilets
• Rain water harvesting and Re use system
• Energy efficient lighting : LED’s
• Water saving plumbing system
• Lots of natural light but ample shading from the hot Brazil sun as well.
• The new design reuses material from the old stadium
• It also features habitat restoration with native plantings and improvements to pedestrian access

Few More : 72,788 – Capacity | 3,500-  Bike Parking | 465 – Reflectors | 276 – Lavatories                    158 – Turnstiles | 74 – Boxes | 54 – Snacks Bar | 20 – Lifts | 6 – TV Booths | 4- Changing Rooms

 FIFA World Cup will showcase not only Brazil, as an emerging power on the global stage, but also give solar power an opportunity to showcase its further potential as a global sustainable energy source.