The developing nations resting on the continent of Africa have become in recent years popular destinations for applying clean technologies, including renewable energy. Because of the excessive cost associated with transporting electricity from power plants, small-scale geothermal, wind, and solar devices have provided much energy to many rural and urban populations. Using renewable energy resource technologies in Africa shows a potential to relieve numerous problems many African nations face. Currently, one-third of the entire African population does not have access to electricity, and aside from major African countries, such as Egypt and South Africa, electricity is often only provided to roughly 20 percent of the population. Because energy is vital to reduce poverty and stem economic growth, it is essential that Africa look into clean technologies.

1 ) African Renewable Energy Alliance (AREA). The African Renewable Energy Alliance, or AREA, is a number of utility companies, industries, policy makers, and civil society members who have all come together to boost the research, development, and use of renewable energy throughout Africa. According to Abel Didier Tella, the Secretary General of union of African utilities UPDEA, “True exchange of information on new technologies as well as workable funding mechanisms for renewable energy is exactly what is needed. By creating the alliance we expect to create an on-going exchange and to speed up renewable energy production in Africa.” Part of the declaration of AREA states, “If we fail to immediately take decisions on renewable energy production and distribution in grid connected areas as well as in off grid regions, we undermine the right of millions of African citizens to develop a better life in the future.”

2 ) General Electric (GE) Investing into East Africa. General Electric, or GE, has created a strategy to assist East Africa in obtaining renewable sources of energy. It has done a lot of investment in Kenya especially as they believe as it can be the African hub for renewable energy technologies. It has large potential for geothermal energy, as well as a strong wind corridor and high solar rations. Kenya also has a large agrarian region, making it suitable for biowaste being turned into fuel. As well, in Algiers, GE is setting up desalinization plants, and in inland cities, GE is looking into the reuse and recycling of various water resources.

3 ) Increasing Renewable Energy Investment into Africa. In 2010, for example, a number of African policy makers and business leaders met in Berlin, Germany to look at renewable energy opportunities in an effort to increase infrastructural development and employment. Emmanuel Emielu, a Chief Executive from one of these businesses stated, “We must invest in developing the entrepreneurial and skills base needed to achieve a massive diffusion of renewable energy technology…across Africa.” Emielu stressed the need of investment into Africa’s growing cleantech desires as it will create much needed employment opportunities and will prevent Africa from becoming an “importer renewable energy business men,” turning it into a dumping ground.

4 ) African Wind Energy Association. Even though a majority of Africa, which lies around the equatorial belt, has a decreased wind resource that other countries. And though, in the past, this has been a barrier, many now believe that there is potential in Africa for large scale wind development. The African Wind Energy Association was created “in order to encourage manufacturers, developer, governments, renewable energy owners, and individuals to promote and support wind energy development on the African continent…[it] aims to become an influential umbrella organization representing the wind energy sector in Africa and this assisting interaction and cooperation between all energy players.”

5 ) Geothermal Potential in Kenya. Because of its location in the Rift Valley, Kenya has potential using geothermal resources. Currently there are two power stations and one power plant producing ample megawatts of energy. It houses Africa’s largest geothermal power station.

6 ) Africa Carbon Forum. The Africa Carbon Forum is held every year with numerous World Bank specialists and business leaders who get together to create strategies for “clean development mechanism” projects for the African continent, including greenhouse gas emissions-reducing initiatives. Because Africa benefits the least out of all continents through the clean development mechanism market and has the least investments, the forum outlines the potential within the African continent to house renewable energy sources. For example, a European Commission researcher stated that just 0.3 percent of sunlight that hits the Sahara desert could supply Europe will all its current energy needs.

7 ) African Renewable Energy Technology Platform. The African Renewable Energy Technology Platform is part of the European Union Energy Initiative, an organization that focuses on energy and poverty that “raise[s] political awareness among high level decision maters of the important role energy can play in poverty reduction [and clarifies] the need for energy services for poverty reduction and sustainable development.” This platform has the aim of “[contributing] to [the understanding of] the potential for renewable energy options in Africa for increased access to electrification in rural areas.”

8 ) Growing Renewable Energy Market. As of the end of 2010, a number of wind projects were developed in North Africa and complete. There has also been an increase in the off-grid solar power market throughout Sub-Saharan Africa that is expected to advance at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of ten percent between 2009 and 2015. “Many developmental agencies consider small-scale renewable energy projects as the most feasible solution for accelerated rural electrification and therefore are increasingly investing in [Africa in] medium-sized projects, especially wind and solar,” said Energy and Power Systems Programme Manager of Frost and Sullivan Cornelis van der Waal.

9 ) Joint Action Between EU and Africa. Through the Africa-EU Energy Partnership the Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme was developed to assist in helping Africa meet its 2020 renewable energy targets and bringing relevant renewable energy technologies to the African market. The overreaching goal is “to bring access to modern and sustainable energy services to at least an additional 100 million Africans by 2020.”

10 ) Decreasing Overall Reliance on Fossil Fuels. For a poor, underdeveloped continent that relies heavily on the import of fossil fuels, it has become ever more important to increase renewable energy technologies. It will not only provide a cheaper, alternative source of energy, but it will provide more energy to more locations throughout the continent and reduce levels of poverty.

Article by Shawn Lesser, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Atlanta-based Watershed Capital Group – an investment bank assisting sustainable fund and companies raise capital, perform acquisitions, and in other strategic financial decisions. He is also a Co-founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association ”The Global Voice of Cleantech”. He writes for various cleantech publications and is known as the David Letterman of Cleantech for his “Top 10″ series. He can be reached at shawn@watershedcapital.com

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Madrid is the magnificent capital city of Spain, a European country that resides along the Iberian Peninsula. It is thought of to be a major global leader within the clean technology industry, including the fields of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and environmental sustainability. While it is a capital of a major country in Western Europe, it is also considered to be one of the most influential cities along the continent. Madrid is always looking to be a European and global leader in clean technology. The city provides a number of avenues for the overall promotion of clean technology, including early adopters, exit markets, engineers, and research centers.

1 ) INNOV’ECO Madrid. INNOV’ECO Madrid is a quarterly meeting of decision makers and business professionals in the clean technology sector that is based off the model in Paris, France. Hundreds of professionals in the clean technology industry gather every few months to learn, discover, network, share, as well as co-develop new business opportunities throughout the cleantech sector. The INNOV’ECO initiative answers three primary directives – “The urgency to develop workable economic solutions at the local level in the face of rising global and non-negotiable climate, energy, and resource predicaments; the need to generate new wealth creation opportunities and stimulate the creation of local green collar jobs; [and] the need to fulfill the strategic aim of enhancing the attractiveness of French Regions and making it a breeding ground for the emergency of a sustainable green economy.”

2 ) Metro de Mardid saves ten percent on 2010 energy bill. IN 2010, the Metro de Madrid was able to reduce its energy bill by ten percent. Through its energy efficiency and energy saving policy, along with a power supply contract, it helped with the savings. A number of research and development projects were implemented to aid in the decrease of energy consumption. For example, there was the “utilization of the braking force for starting trains, which means that Metro saves an amount of energy equivalent to the total consumption of Line 2 throughout the whole year.”

3 ) National Renewable Energy Center. The National Renewable Energy Center, or CENER for short, has offices in Madrid. CENER is a technology center that specializes in applied research and the overall development as well as promotion of renewable energy sources. It has been active since 2002 and performs research in six areas – wind energy, solar thermal energy, photovoltaic solar energy, biomass energy, energy in buildings, and renewable energy grid integration.

4 ) Petratherm signs deal for Madrid geothermal project. In 2009, Petratherm, a geothermal company based in Adelaide, created a partnership with the Spanish federal government as well as the Madrid regional government to advance an eight megawatt Madrid Geothermal District Heating project. It will be the very first application of geothermal district heating throughout the entire region.

5 ) Companies measure the underground geothermal energy in Madrid. Termoterra, IFTec GeoEnergia, and Sensus came together in 2010 to measure the geothermal energy located beneath the city of Madrid. The objective is to “Use the metro environment as a means of cooling and heating the platforms, offices, and commercial space of the Pacifico Metro station by installing a geothermal heat pump.” Madrid has been looking for a viable solution that would allow them to harness geothermal energy in order to provide a sustainable heat source during the winter months and cooling source during the summer months.

6 ) Madrid Wins the Green Good Design Award in 2010. Established in 1950, the Good Design Award is one of the oldest and most significant global awards that go to some of the best in design when it comes to environment and products. In 2010, the awards looked to recognize cities, organizations, governments, research centers, and individuals who are aiding in creating a more sustainable environment. Madrid has the second highest number of aligned trees around the world (exceeded only by Tokyo, Japan). Over eight percent of the grounds in Madrid are green areas.

7 ) Real Madrid City field sets a good environmental example. The Real Madrid soccer field sets a great eco-friendly example. The field is very big on recycling, for example – batteries, paper, glass, electronics, organic residue, and so on are all recycled rather than thrown out. There is a water purifier on site that recycles both rain and fecal water to then be used by the field’s sprinkler system. There is also 180 m2 of thermal solar energy panels, providing over 60 percent of all hot water used in the dressing rooms at the field.

8 ) Sustainable Ecopolis Plaza in Madrid becomes versatile public space. A newly completed public facility in Madrid looks to familiarize people with green design principles. Behind its yellow façade, there is a very efficient building that minimizes materials use through its highly sustainable design. It has been named an “open environmental classroom.” The building used 35 percent fewer materials than most building projects of the same size. The building is primarily a childcare center and recreation center. There are numerous windows that allow for natural light and air.

9 ) BP Solar builds mega cell plant in Madrid. In March of 2007, BP Solar made the announcement that it began construction of a mega cell plant in its European headquarters in Tres Cantos, Madrid. During Phase I of this expansion, BP Solar looked to expand its yearly cell capacity to 300 megawatts from 55 megawatts. It was fully operational by the summer of 2008.

10 ) ISOFOTON aims to increase CPV solar module efficiency by 35 percent. In September of 2011, ISOFOTON started to coordinate a new project called SigmaModulus. The goal of this project is to improve overall module conversion efficiency by 35 percent. It is going to be a three year project that will involve research centers at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (the Integrated Home Automation Center and the Solar Energy Institute), the Institute of Concentration PV Systems, and the Institute of Aerospace Engineering.

Article by Shawn Lesser, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Atlanta-based Watershed Capital Group – an investment bank assisting sustainable fund and companies raise capital, perform acquisitions, and in other strategic financial decisions. He is also a Co-founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association ”The Global Voice of Cleantech”. He writes for various cleantech publications and is known as the David Letterman of Cleantech for his “Top 10″ series. He can be reached at shawn@watershedcapital.com

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Geothermal (Ground-Source) Heat Pumps (GHPs) make use of a completely different set of principles than the kind of geothermal we commonly discuss. Where the latter relies on the transfer of thermal energy from one fluid to another, like an egg placed in boiling water, the former relies on the principles of refrigeration, i.e., the evaporation and condensation of a substance in an enclosed space.

But considering that many people are unaware of this, how large an effect does public ignorance have? It’s huge, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, which dubs this effect a GHP “energy crisis” in their recent report:

The basics of GHP technology have changed very little over the decades but a geothermal identity crisis has been detrimental to fostering awareness, understanding, and acceptance of the technology. Depending on the perspective, GHPs have been cast as an energy source by many names (renewable, geothermal, solar, earth, alternative, recycled), as energy efficiency or energy conservation, or as an option within a broader category such as utility demand-side management.

There’s plenty to get excited about in GHPs, whose basic concept is that even very cold water or cold air contains an appreciable amount of energy that be extracted and moved very inexpensively.

In the coming month or two, I hope to corral GHP expert and professional consultant Mark Metzner for a webinar on the subject. I’m sure listeners will be surprised and delighted to learn how simple, inexpensive and ridiculously underused this technology is. More soon.

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Calgary is a city located in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is the largest municipality in Alberta and the third largest within Canada. Calgary was the first Canadian city to ever host the Olympic winter games in 1988. Calgary is often recognized as the primary leader in Canada in the gas and oil industry. Calgary is home to a number of clean technology programs, initiatives, and companies. Here are just a few of the highlights of clean technology in this Canadian city.

1 ) Calgary Economic Development Strategy. The province of Alberta is continuing to respond to the global demand of environmentally friendly renewable energy. Calgary has been integral to this response plan. In 2008, Calgary created the Calgary Economic Development Plan. This ten year strategic vision looks to have Calgary become an international center for the energy sector. One thing is to bring together a number of small and medium sized companies and connect them with potential partners and funders to become more energy independent.

2 ) Greenergy Renewable Energy Ltd. Established in 2007, Greenergy Renewable Energy Ltd. is one of the primary solar photovoltaic power systems suppliers in Calgary. The company specializes in the design, supply, as well as installation of these systems and connection to the local utility grid. Greenergy works with a number of homeowners and businesses, and aside from the photovoltaic system, they also provide LED lighting upgrades, solar photovoltaic system design, and renewable energy technology review. For construction companies building new homes, they offer consultation services on how to make a home more energy efficient.

3 ) ENMAX Reinforces their Commitment to Renewable Energy Solutions. ENMAX, a Calgary-based electricity and natural gas company, announced in 2004, their commitment to obtaining renewable energy solutions for their customers. Known as the Greenmax Program, customers have the ability to select whether or not they want some of their energy to come from renewable sources. For example, small commercial customers who sign on for three to five years will receive 100 percent of wind generated power for their first year at no additional cost.

4 ) Calgary’s Light Rail Transit System Rides the Wind. With only 12 wind turbines, Calgary has been able to successfully power their Light Rail Transit, turning it into a 100 percent emissions free mode of public transportation. The light rail services 90 million people annually and now runs on completely clean and renewable wind energy. It is one of the only public transportation systems in all of North American to complete phase out the use of fossil fuels. The light rail reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 47,000 tons annually. This project started in September 2011 with ENMAX and Vision Quest Windelectric and is known as the Ride the Wind program. This project was started after it was realized that the light rail was the preferred mode of transportation during peak rush hours especially.

5 ) Calgary Geothermal. One of the biggest companies in Calgary to make use of geothermal energy is Calgary Geothermal. The company states that one geothermal system in the typical home is equal to removing two midsize cars from the road every year. Calgary Geothermal will design a geothermal solution for all homes and buildings and will save on energy and carbon dioxide emissions.

6 ) Keeping Buildings Green. In the year 2003, Calgary was the first municipality throughout all of the Canadian country to create a sustainable building policy. This policy mandated that all new buildings in the city as well as renovations to all existing facilities meet and if possible exceed the Silver LEED rating. By the year 2008, Calgary raised the bar saying that all buildings must get Gold LEED certification. Cardel Place, a community center, was the first Gold LEED certified building throughout all of the province of Alberta.

7 ) Energy Efficient Street Lights. Calgary can also boast that it was the very first city throughout the entire North American continent to install new streetlight fixtures with flat lenses. More than 37,000 street lights were retrofitted, saving the city more than $1.7 million annually because of a reduction in total energy consumption. The electricity the city was able to save through this street light retrofitting process is enough to provide power to approximately 3,000 homes annually.

8 ) Greening Fleets with Biodiesel. Over the last five years, Calgary has started a new initiative with the Waste and Recycling Services as well as the Fleet Services to make the fleets much more environmentally friendly. The biodiesel initiative is one of the largest programs of its kind throughout Western Canada. More than 240 trucks in the City of Calgary’s fleet now run on a biofuels blend, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 16 percent per liter. A number of biodiesel fueling stations were set up throughout Calgary so fleets could use the biodiesel blended with the petroleum diesel. The engines do not need to be modified to do this in any way. Since the start of this biodiesel initiative, more than 1,600 tons of greenhouse gas emissions have been prevented from entering into the atmosphere.

9 ) Canadian Energy Research Institute. Located in Calgary is the Canadian Energy Research Institute. This not-for-profit organization what established in 1975 and is a partnership between the government, energy industry, and academia. The objective of the institute is to “Provide relevant, independent, objective economic research in energy and related environmental issues. [The Canadian Energy Research Institute strives] to build bridges between scholarship and policy, combining the insights of scientific research, economic analysis, and practical experience.” This institute is one of the more prestigious energy economics research institutes around the globe.

10 ) University of Calgary Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy. At the University of Calgary is the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy. The mandate of this institute is “To develop cost-effective solutions to the environmental challenges of energy production and use.” Known as ISEEE for short, the institute does interdisciplinary research to inform all investment and policy decisions regarding all the environmental challenges faced by energy use and production. Some research examples include carbon management, fuel cells, and advanced solar materials.

Article by Shawn Lesser, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Atlanta-based Watershed Capital Group – an investment bank assisting sustainable fund and companies raise capital, perform acquisitions, and in other strategic financial decisions. He is also a Co-founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association ”The Global Voice of Cleantech”. He writes for various cleantech publications and is known as the David Letterman of Cleantech for his “Top 10″ series. He can be reached at shawn@watershedcapital.com

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U.S. researchers have released an interactive database of the nation’s geothermal resources, mapping in detail the areas of exploration that they say could produce roughly 3 million megawatts of energy using existing technologies. Researchers at the Southern Methodist University Geothermal Laboratory assembled geological data from 35,000 sites nationwide, including the depth and temperature of geothermal resources for each state. Those projections, which can be viewed using Google Earth software, suggest there is significantly more potential for geothermal energy than previously believed, particularly in the eastern two-thirds of the nation. While geothermal production in the U.S. has typically been limited to heat-producing, tectonically active regions of the West, recent advancements in drilling and extraction technologies have made it possible to tap into a wider range of geologic regions. The study was funded by Google’s non-profit arm, Google.org.

Click to enlarge

Google Earth Geothermal potential in the U.S.

Article appearing courtesy Yale Environment 360 .

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Canada gets most of its energy from hydropower, coal and nuclear. But scientists say that geothermal power could meet the country’s energy needs one million times over.

The statement is taken from a federal report on geothermal energy. The document was compiled by a team of 12 scientists led by Stephen Grasby at the federal Geological Survey of Canada and made public on the eve of a conference in Toronto earlier this month.

One of the main advantages of geothermal is that it is available 24 hours, unlike wind and solar, which face intermittency issues.

British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon and Northwest Territories are the areas where the heat exists closer to the surface, but there are geothermal energy opportunities all over Canada. The researchers estimate that 100 projects would meet the country’s energy needs.

The biggest drawback for geothermal implementation is that upfront costs are very high. The logistics involved are quite daunting: wells must be drilled miles into the earth to bring heat to the surface. And then plants need to be built to turn the heat into electricity. All of this comes with its share of environmental impact, but much less aggressive than the impact caused by fossil fuels.

The report highlights a technique called ‘enhanced geothermal’ as one with great potential. Water or CO2 is injected into the wells so that it can migrate through the cracked rocks to capture heat. The heated water or CO2 is brought back to the surface to produce electricity. Europe and Australia are currently testing this type of hydropower technology.

What do you think? Is geothermal a truly sustainable alternative, and economically viable one as well?

Article by Antonio Pasolini, a Brazilian writer and video art curator based in London, UK. He holds a BA in journalism and an MA in film and television.

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Numerous statistical figures demonstrate that in 2008, there were more than 922 international tourists, raising revenue to more than $900 billion globally. In numerous countries, the tourism industry accounts for a large percentage of the workforce. For example, in Egypt, the tourism industry workforce accounts for more than ten percent. Because of the importance of the hotel industry in the international economy, many have adopted a number of green technologies to assist in making the environment better. Here is what ten hotels are doing around the world to make the world greener.

1) Daintree Eco Lodge and Spa in Queensland, Australia, is located in the oldest rainforest in the world. This Eco Lodge and Spa uses a number of sustainable energy practices, including solar power, and low energy LED lights. The hotel even has its own personal organic farm that it uses to grow produce used in the meals at the hotel. This hotel is involved in ecotourism to preserve and protect natural properties, including mangroves, river systems, and the rainforest. They have developed a number of management systems to guarantee a number of best practices are carried out each day, including energy management, environmental management, and waste management. Daintree also works with the Australian Greenhouse Office and complies with international sustainable tourism standards set up by the World Conservation Union, World Tourism Organization, and the International Ecotourism Association.

2) Chumbe Island Coral Park in Zanibar, Tanzania was created on the island to showcase environmental protection, including the coral reef ecosystem. This park is known worldwide for its intense eco-tourism by using 100 percent solar power and water heating, composting toilets, rainwater collection and grey water systems. Chumbe Island Coral Park is known for having one of the healthiest reef ecosystems throughout East Africa. The hotel is listed as a Long Run Destination, meaning that it strives for high standards of sustainability through the complete balance of commerce and conservation.

3) Hotel Alexandra in Copenhagen, Denmark is more than one hundred years old but has been revamped to be more sustainable as Copenhagen is known for a number of green initiatives. The entire structure of Hotel Alexandra is completely carbon neutral. The hotel has been awarded the Green Key from the Green Key Eco-Rating Program, which is an international eco-label tourism organization. They won this award due to the large number of eco-friendly features, including an organic breakfast buffet and a floor that is 100 percent free of allergens.

4) Adrere Amellal in the Siwa Oasis, Egypt is located along the foot of the White Mountain and provides insight into the rigors and thrills of desert life. What is the most impressive feature of this rustic hotel is the fact that this 39 room hotel does not even have electricity. All lighting is done by beeswax candles and all meals are made strictly using organic ingredients. There is natural ventilation that uses the dry climate in the desert. This has decreased the cost of energy and maintenance plus completely reduces the carbon footprint to almost zero. They use bio-gas technologies and water comes from a natural spring that is on site. All food waste is composted and most items on site are biodegradable.

5) Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, Colorado has received the Environmental Protection Agency Award for Responsible Development and Historic Preservation. Located on 5,000 acres of land, the structure only takes up about 8- acres, and the rest of the land is used as a preservation point for exotic wildlife. All the buildings at the ranch are heated using geothermal energy to reduce total dependence on electricity and natural gas. Duel flush toilets are used to conserve water and florescent light bulbs are utilized. The ranch has a number of recycling initiatives implemented, all cleaning and spa products are biodegradable, natural and organic, all restaurants on site use sustainable, organic, and locally grown produce and meats when they can, and linens are changed every three days (unless otherwise requested) to conserve energy and water.

6) Hotel Mocking Bird Hill in Port Antonio, Jamaica has practiced sustainability for over 15 years and has won a number of awards including the Green Globe Certification award and the American Express/CHA prize for most Environmentally Friendly Small Hotel. Some of the things the hotel does includes solar energy, rainwater harvesting, natural air conditioning, anaerobic wastewater treatment, low chlorine pool that runs on renewable energy, no pesticides and insecticides used on the gardens, and utilizing local organic items then they can. The hotel also promotes an active waste avoidance policy – whenever possible, the hotel minimizes, reuses, and recycles waste products.

7) Strattons Hotel in Swaffham, England is not only known for the multitude of activities it offers or its breathtaking location along the Norfolk coastline, but is also widely recognized for the number of energy efficient measures it has taken. The Strattons Hotel was the first hotel in the United Kingdom to receive the Queen’s Award for “Outstanding Environmental Performance.” Food, rooms, and services use natural products that are sourced locally and organically when they can to promote the environment and the earth. The Strattons Hotel continually monitors its energy use, water management, and waste reduction. Furthermore, guests that come to the hotel via public transportation are provided with a ten percent discount on their stay.

8 ) Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa in American Canyon, California is the first Gold LEED certified hotel in the world. The Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa utilizes a number of energy efficient techniques, including water usage reduction techniques, natural lighting via solatube tubular skylights, and organic cleaning products. All materials that are wood-based are Forest Stewardship Council approved and the carpeting is made using recycled materials. The hotel has been able to reduce water use by 40 percent through the use of a number of techniques, including DDLow flush toilets and the use of recycled water in the koi pond. Other features include energy efficient HVAC systems, low energy transmittable windows, a cool reflective roof, recycling bins in all rooms and throughout the property, and bulk soap dispensers to reduce plastic packaging associated with mini soap and shampoo bottles.

9) Soneva Fushi Resort in Baa Atoll, Republic of Maldives has won a number of awards for the green initiatives it has made, including winner of The President of the Maldives’ Green Resort Award for several years. In 2010, the hotel became 100 percent carbon neutral. Environmental initiatives include increasing energy efficient, reducing resource waste and consumption, preventing the release of harmful toxins throughout the environment, and island preservation. The hotel uses natural ventilation, sources materials locally, installed energy saving light bulbs, pools use filtered seawater, collects rainwater, has a waste management program, and the resort was designed to minimize the overall impact to the island’s natural environment.

10) Quarterage Hotel in Kansas City, Kansas started going green in 2007 with complete renovations and has not gone back. The eco-plan contains a number of points. The hotel only uses Energy Star products, including digital guestroom thermostats and florescent light bulbs, utilizes environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals, gets 100 percent post consumable recycled products for all tissues, toilet paper, paper towels, paper coffee cups and other items, puts recycling bins in every room, and has a number of water conservation techniques.

Article by Shawn Lesser, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Atlanta-based Watershed Capital Group – an investment bank assisting sustainable fund and companies raise capital, perform acquisitions, and in other strategic financial decisions. He is also a Co-founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association ”The Global Voice of Cleantech”. He writes for various cleantech publications and is known as the David Letterman of Cleantech for his “Top 10″ series. He can be reached at shawn@watershedcapital.com

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I love solar thermal. It’s a simple, reliable, provides solid returns and can have a significant impact on reducing business costs for heavy hot water use facilities; hotels, car washes, laundry mats, food processing plants, you name it. Unfortunately in the past few years the solar pv industry has taken the lead to both geothermal and solar thermal in the hearts and mind of consumers and politicians alike. The growth of the solar pv industry when compared with geothermal and solar thermal is evidence enough.

However, Maryland has created solar thermal renewable energy credits (SRECs), similar to solar pv SRECS, that will allow Maryland based solar hot water owners to produce and sell up to 5 SRECS per year. Although 5 SREC limits the program to smaller installations, this is a huge step for the solar thermal industry.

Why will SRECs help grow the solar thermal industry?
There are two main types of incentives, ones based on installed cost (tax credits, rebates, etc) and the others based on production (feed-in tarrifs, srecs). Incentives based on production are best because they provide cash flow for the life of the system but also ensure that the installer will maximize output of the system for the lowest possible price. Solar thermal has traditionally been seen as an energy efficiency measure that was simply offsetting the use of another fuel (electric, natural gas, heating oil) and not as a source of energy in its own right. By creating SRECs, solar thermal image is now being changed into a source of energy and not just an efficiency measure, a key ingredient for investing a financing systems.

By creating SRECs solar thermal systems will generate cash both in the offsetting of a fossil fuel source but in the production of BTUs that the system creates. This will make investing in solar thermal systems more attractive to heavy water users and it will also incentive solar installers to maximize production at the lower costs. Also, the generation of SRECs will make it easier for financing of systems by PPA providers, further decreasing upfront costs needed and accelerating adoption.

What does this mean for solar thermal installers?
Right now, it depends where you are. The solar thermal SRECs are just being put into place in a select few states. What we’ll be waiting for is to see if the programs work and how effective they are. If they are effective other states will begin to adoption them, particularly states that have high oil or natural gas prices. Also, you’ll start to see solar thermal PPA companies start or established solar pv PPA providers expand their business into the thermal industry. My hunch is that solar pv PPA companies will not touch it because they can’t keep up with solar thermal demand. For now, we need to wait, but if all goes well the solar thermal industry should see huge growth with the development of thermal SRECs followed by PPAs.

Article by Chris Williams who works with HeatSpring Learning Institute delivering world-class IGSHPA Geothermal Training, NABCEP Solar Training, and BPI Certification training to professionals who are installing, designing or selling renewable energy systems. Cleantechies readers can received a $100 discount off all HeatSpring courses, both online and offline, with the code “cleantechies”. Chris can be reached directly at cwilliams@heatspring.com

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A U.S. startup says it has developed an enhanced geothermal energy system (EGS) that engineers say can tap into heat from the Earth’s interior without any associated risks of triggering earthquakes or polluting underground aquifers.

While typical EGS processes require developers to pump liquids into deep wells at high pressure, a process that has on occasion triggered small earthquakes, GTHerm has developed an approach that doesn’t require fracturing or water cooling.

Instead, the process includes installation of a solid-state heat exchanger, or “heat nest,” at the bottom of the well that can more efficiently draw heat from surrounding rock with the help of a highly conductive grout encasing the heat exchanger.

Fluid is sent down the well in a closed loop that carries the heat back to the surface, where it creates steam that drives electricity-generating turbines. “We’re basically a heat pump on steroids,” said Michael Parrella, CEO and founder of the Connecticut-based company.

The company, which is now testing the commercial feasibility of the technology, hopes to have demonstration plants in place as early as 2012.

Article appearing courtesy Yale Environment 360.

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If properly harnessed, geothermal energy systems could help China meet its growing energy needs, providing a reliable source of power that comes with negligible carbon emissions. On Friday the Shanghai Institute of Geological Engineering Exploration announced geothermal heating and cooling systems may soon be deployed in the city of Shanghai, saving residents money on energy bills in the long term.

The kind of geothermal setup the Institute has in mind utilizes an air exchange system to draw energy from about 650 feet (200 meters) beneath the ground’s surface. At this depth, underground temperatures tend to stay around 77 degrees Fahrenheit, and can be tapped year round to keep building temperatures fairly constant. The system could be used not only for heating during the winter, but also to keep buildings cool in summer. Since summer air conditioning is one of the most energy-hungry home enterprises, this could truly make a significant dent in residential carbon emissions.

The upfront cost of a geothermal heating and cooling system would be about 50% greater for homeowners, but over time the system would pay for itself. With reliable coal and oil supplies tightening in China, this ratio could shift over time to put geothermal systems at even more of an advantage.Considering it has the fastest growing economy in the world, China will not be able to meet its energy needs forever and a quick transition to renewable energy simply makes sense.

Using geothermal energy to help power the economy is not a new idea in China. Most of the country’s headline-grabbing clean energy investments have been in wind and solar projects, but China is also exploring its geothermal resources. Last year the Chinese Sinopec Star Petroleum Company announced an agreement with Geysir Green Energy of Iceland, to build geothermal power stations in the northeastern part of the country. China is attempting to build long term geothermal partnerships with Iceland, which has been more successful than any other country in the world at harnessing energy from underground.

Of course as with any energy source, tapping geothermal power can cause problems if it isn’t done properly. The heat exchange systems that could soon start popping up in Shanghai could cause ground water pollution if not done properly. However considering the serious environmental effects connected with burning fossil fuels and China’s desperate need for new sources of low-carbon energy, the benefits of using geothermal power on a large scale seem to greatly outweigh the costs.

Today China is the world’s biggest energy user and the largest annual emitter of greenhouse gases that cause global warming. As energy demand continues to rise in China, the stakes couldn’t be higher in the search for clean energy alternatives to fossil fuels. There will be no silver bullet for China’s energy problems, but it seems only logical for the country to make use of every clean energy source at its disposal. Geothermal power will almost certainly be a part of how China meets its energy needs in the future.

Article by Nick Engelfried, appearing courtesy Justmeans.

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