Category Archives: Energy

Blackstone Resources Acquires Property for 5 GWh Production

Blackstone Resources AG is pleased to announce that with the acquisition of extensive land in Döbeln, Saxony, the way is paved to increase the capacity of the battery factory to the target of 5 GWh annually in three further stages.

Baar, Switzerland | January 21, 2022 — Blackstone Resources AG (SWX; symbol BLS, ISIN CH0460027110) is pleased to announce that with the acquisition of extensive land in Döbeln, Saxony, the way is paved to increase the capacity of the battery factory to the target of 5 GWh annually in three further stages. “With the purchase of approx. 16,500 m² of land at the site of our subsidiary, Blackstone Technology GmbH, we are once again one step closer to our vision,” says a delighted CEO Ulrich Ernst.

On the roadmap according to plan with three milestones:

The extensive gain in space comes at an ideal time for Blackstone. “With this step, we are creating the production capacities that our customers and partners demand,” says CMO Serhat Yilmaz. “We can now implement our roadmap according to plan and will swiftly realise the next expansion stages.” Following the recently opened production facility in Döbeln, multi-stage expansions are planned for a new gigafactory building up to a preliminary peak capacity of 5 GWh annually.

The first milestone was the start of the production facility with a capacity of 50 MWh. It was reached at the end of 2021 and presented to the international public at a major press conference. Currently, the first products and sample cells are being finalised for various customers and the automotive industry. “The high energy density of our battery cells, their environmental compatibility and the unprecedented flexibility in shaping are particularly valid arguments for our technology.

As a second milestone, the output of the 3D printing facility for lithium battery cells in Döbeln will initially be increased tenfold. “The first intermediate step will increase our total capacity to 500 MWh”. The expansion has already begun and will be completed on schedule within the next 12 months.

Finally, the third milestone is scaling up to a 5 GWh annual capacity in 2023-24. A two-story extension to the present battery factory is planned for this purpose. Particularly noteworthy is the small space required for this increased high capacity. We will ask for the building permit for this extension as soon as possible.

About Blackstone Resources AG:

Blackstone Resources is a Swiss Holding Company, with its legal domicile in Baar, Kanton Zug, and is concentrating on the battery technology and battery-metals market and offers direct exposure to the battery-technology revolution.

Presently, Blackstone Technology GmbH builds up a production-line for small series of 3D printed batteries in Döbeln, Saxony, Germany. The short-term production will be pouch-cells with the Blackstone Thick Layer Technology © which allows a 20% higher density in lithium-ion cells, Blackstone Resources continues the program of development in solid state batteries and its production process.

Electric vehicles and batteries have driven the demand for large quantities of various metals. Therefore, Blackstone Resources explores, develops and trades battery-metals such as lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite, nickel and copper.

For more information, please visit www.blackstoneresources.ch

Press & Media Contact:
Serhat Yilmaz
Chief Marketing Officer
Blackstone Resources AG
Blegistrasse 5, CH-6340 Baar,
Switzerland
Tel: +41 41 449 61 63
Fax: +41 41 449 61 69
press@blackstonresources.ch / info@blackstoneresources.ch
https://www.blackstoneresources.ch

Investor Relations:
ir@blackstoneresources.ch
Registered Share: ISIN CH0460027110

The disclaimer is an integral part of this press release. Please read the disclaimer to fully understand its contents: http://www.blackstoneresources.ch/investors/disclaimer/

SkyRFID strengthens support for U.S. customers with the completion of assets and management transfer from Canada to the U.S.A.

SkyRFID Inc. announces new USA incorporated firm, SkyRFID, LLC

Lansdowne, Virginia, United States, 2022-Jan-19 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — SkyRFID Inc. recently completed the transfer of assets and management from Canada to the U.S.A. advancing the support of U.S. customers, including the U.S. government. Long-time technology and equity partners, Geoff Dewhurst and Tim Shinbara, received approval from their respective Boards to continue the 30+ years of SkyRFID development, fulfillment, and operations from within the U.S. in early 2020 and founded SkyRFID, LLC in Lansdowne, Virginia in November of 2020. For SkyRFID, Inc., 2021 was a winddown and dissolution period. The two partners will continue to operate SkyRFID, LLC with Mr. Shinbara being named CEO and President and Mr. Dewhurst retaining Chief Architect duties and responsibilities.

Having merged the talent and resources from Mr. Shinbara’s ventures and experience into SkyRFID, LLC the firm will now be headquartered and operated from Lansdowne, Virginia, U.S.A. The Canadian dissolution transferred all assets from Ontario-based SkyRFID, Inc. to the new Virginia-based SkyRFID, LLC.

All Global Sky Partner channels conveyed to SkyRFID, LLC as well as current contracts, purchase agreements/orders, and projects which will all be subject to US and Virginia laws and policies as applicable.

SkyRFID, LLC continues the decades-long operation of solving asset management challenges, covering more than 135 countries. Solution integrations will continue to include NFC, RFID, RTLS, Wi-Fi, and IoT-based communication protocols and may support further interoperability with mobile cellular protocols such as GSM, GPRS, HSPDA+, 4G-LTE, and upcoming 5G protocols.

About SkyRFID, LLC
SkyRFID, LLC, the leader in Dynamic Asset Management, has become the “go-to” resource for security and tracking for real-time management of high-value, critical assets.

Having 30+ years of continuous improvement toward providing full scope capability, SkyRFID’s differentiation is realized in our consistent and reliable quality, optimal-cost hardware components end-to-end real-time tracking and reporting solutions; all which include our global consulting team supporting multiple industry verticals.

With its established global network of engineers, consultants, resellers, and system integrators, SkyRFID has become the premier partner for developing, implementing, and managing enterprise solutions.

SkyRFID assists at any or all levels from technical design to implementation of hundreds of RFID, sensor, and IoT technology projects each year, using its Global Sky Partner channel of over 500 companies in more than 135 countries to service local implementations and support.

For more information visit: www.SkyRFID.com

For sales information contact SkyRFID, LLC at +1 571-512-5262
E-mail: sales@skyrfid.com

Media contact:

Tim Shinbara
SkyRFID, LLC
19309 Winmeade Drive, Suite 900
Lansdowne, Virginia, 20176
+1 (561) 512-5262
TimS@SkyRFID.com
www.skyrfid.com

Global Essential Oil Maker Installs Rapid On-demand Steam, Reducing Energy Cost Per Kilo by 32%


The boiler Young Living Farms was using at its Highland Flats Distillery was not nearly as efficient as it needed to be for a global leader in essential oils. Young Living replaced its single 500HP firetube boiler at the Highland Flats Distillery with TWO Clayton 150 HP boilers. When the new boiler solution went online the efficiency skyrocketed, and energy savings were significant.

Los Angeles, CA – USA | December 23, 2021 — Young Living Farms, headquartered in Lehi, Utah is an acknowledged leader in its field, producing some of the best essential oils in the world. Fueled by a growing demand for top-quality essential oils, it now has offices in Australia, Europe, Canada, Japan, and Singapore – and farms located around the world. Young Living sells its products through a global network of member distributors, so maintaining inventory and controlling costs is imperative.

“The older firetube boiler Young Living had been using at its Highland Flats Distillery in Naples, Idaho, was not nearly as efficient as it needed to be for a global leader in essential oils,” said Mario Talavera, Sr., Western Regional Sales Manager for Clayton Industries.

That is due to the ratio of having to heat 3,000 gallons of water up to 70 pounds per square inch of steam pressure from a cold start or dry start – which would take up to five or more hours using the old system. Plus, the firetube boiler required an additional hour to bleed off the steam at shutdowns to leave it in a safe, depressurized, risk-free state.

“A colleague who managed our Northern Lights Distillery in Fort Nelson, British Columbia, had been talking with me about switching from the firetube boiler to a steam boiler from Clayton,” said Young Living Farms executive director Brett Packer. “He said it worked more like on-demand steam and is much safer and more efficient.”

Young Living replaced its single 500HP firetube boiler at the Highland Flats Distillery with TWO Clayton 150 HP boilers. When the new boiler solution went online the efficiency skyrocketed, and energy savings were significant, because with rapid on-demand steam generators they can now go from totally cold to full-steam output in roughly five minutes.

“When I reported the numbers, people didn’t believe me,” Packer said, reporting that “Switching to Clayton boilers resulted in a 32+% reduction in the cost of fuel and utilities per kilo of oil, which is the unit we use to measure production. We also gained significant production efficiencies. Clayton boilers reduced our operators’ hours by 10%.”

A two-generator advantage

With both boilers fitting in the same footprint as the old system’s 500 HP firetube boiler, Young Living gained another advantage: they could have one generator running and one generator for backup. “If there would ever be a problem, having a backup allows us to keep production going while we take time to identify the issue and correct it,” Packer said.

Being able to adjust to harvest changes within minutes supported Young Living’s need for flexible manufacturing.

Increased efficiency through rapid on-demand steam operation and incredibly low emissions levels were key reasons why the company chose to replace the old firetube boiler with a new pair of steam boilers. Production flexibility was another critical advantage.

The Clayton steam generators allowed the facility in Naples, Idaho, to adjust to harvest changes minute to minute. Packer said that with the rapid on-demand steam generators, they could adjust steam pressures as needed in just seconds – depending on the material demand and stages of production. The new boilers can fully supply needed steam demand, from completely shut down to fully operational, in five minutes. In contrast, the old boiler had a 90 minute or longer turnaround time window to fire up or shut down.

“Distilling pure essential oils is a meticulous process,” Packer said. “The quality of the steam from Clayton boilers is 99.5% dry, so it’s ideal for steam extraction and has increased our yields. Ever since the Clayton install at Highland Flats, we’ve been able to supply all needed inventory levels of the oils from three conifer species we provide to our distribution center. These oils get blended into hundreds of Young Living finished goods, including a top-10, best-selling product out of all of Young Living’s product lines.”

About Young Living Farms:

Established in 1993, Young Living is committed to providing pure, powerful products, all infused with their essential oils’ life-changing benefits. It designed and built the largest, most technologically advanced essential oil distilleries in North America. They also developed a proprietary, groundbreaking Seed to Seal® process, which preserves the integrity and potency of essential oils through every step of the production process. For more information, visit www.youngliving.com.

About Clayton Industries:

Clayton Industries is a leading global manufacturer of industrial steam boilers and industrial process steam generation products. Clayton’s unique controlled circulation counter-flow design offers many operational advantages, energy efficiencies and other benefits over other industrial steam boilers. Its control systems are built with the latest technology. Established in 1930, and headquartered in City of Industry, California, Clayton serves diverse worldwide markets from its industrial steam boiler manufacturing facilities in the United States, Belgium, and Mexico. For more information, visit www.claytonindustries.com.

(Caption: The Clayton boilers installed at the Highland Flats Distillery enabled Young Living to keep up with inventory demand for oils from three conifer species that get blended into hundreds of their finished goods.)

(Caption: The two Clayton I50 HP boilers fit in the same footprint as the single 500 HP firetube boiler they were replacing. Young Living Farms could now have one generator running and one generator for backup. With the new boilers’ fast reaction time, steam could be produced on demand for morning production – resulting in an immediate 32+% energy savings.)

Press & Media Contact:
Gina DiMassa
Brand Orbit
+1 626-791-7954
ginadc@brandorbit.com
https://www.claytonindustries.com

Plus Xnergy Most Voted Company, Now Offering Commercial Solar Financing

Plus Xnergy Holding Sdn Bhd, offers its customers commercial solar financing to make it easier to trust energy saving options. This has made it one of the most voted Malaysia Solar Company.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | November 15, 2021 — In recent times, with the advancement of technology the demand for the solar energy industry. This has made people turn towards solar energy saving options. There are numerous Solar Companies in Malaysia, but Plus Xnergy Holding Sdn Bhd has received the trust of people. This has made it the most voted company in Malaysia.

The company is now offering the solution of commercial solar financing. This is one of the solutions that is brought into function to support the solar contractors to complete more projects. Commercial solar financing is much different from residential financing. It helps the contracts to buy products and complete projects. Under this, the company is also offering solar panel loans.

The most rated company is not only restricted to solar financing options but also offers its customers a wide range of other solutions. The solutions offered by the company include solar for home, solar for business, solar farm, AIoT solutions, Globalisation, and battery storage. The company allows energy generation and gives power to the business with clean energy.

About the Company:

The Malaysia Solar Company, Plus Xnergy Holding Sdn Bhd was started by Ko Chuan Zhen, Poh Tyng Huei, and Ryan Oh Zhi Kang. Over the years the company has proven itself and given innovative ideas to save energy. The company that came into being with the mission of reinvention of energy generation and application, is still adhering to it.

Over the years the company has evolved and brought a lot many innovations, to add to the sustainable future.

Here’s what the Ryan Oh Zhi Kang Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Of Plus Xnergy Edge Technologies & The Executive Director has to say, “We have always worked to give the world a future-ready and innovative solution. The solution of commercial solar financing will not only increase the reliability of Solar energy-saving options but will also allow the contractors to complete more projects without any hurdle.”

Hence, the company offers the energy trilogy, which includes energy generation, energy efficiency and energy storage.

For more information, please visit https://www.plusxnergy.com/

Press & Media Contact:
Media Relations
Plus Xnergy Holding Sdn Bhd
L5-E-7A, Enterprise 4,
Technology Park Malaysia, Bukit Jalil,
Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
03-8993 9050
hello.pxh@plusxnergy.com
www.plusxnergy.com

Ofer Levin GTI: Investments in Electric Vehicles in Austria

Vienna, Austria, 2021-May-10 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — The electric vehicle market in Austria and around the world is growing at an alarming rate. Statistics indicate that Tesla sold more than 180,000 vehicles in the first quarter of 2021. According to Ofer Levin GTI, a leading expert in cars, 4% of all the sales were made to Austria, and Tesla Model 3 was the most demanded. This makes up 33% of all vehicles in Austria’s market and is followed closely by Volkswagen AG at 12% of the market share.

“With these statistics, we can conclude that Tesla is taking over the automobile market,” Ofer Levin went ahead to explain. We are foreseeing a scenario whereby shortly, the gas-powered vehicles will be outdated. This is because electric cars are being embraced worldwide and are quickly replacing traditional gas-powered cars. In the recent past, vehicle sales declined drastically, and this was attributed to the pandemic.

People reduced spending and embraced saving to cater for uncertainties. The sale of electric cars was not spared either, and before March 2021, the market was a bit too slow.

However, the automobile market in Austria saw an increase in the electric vehicles registered in the months of March and April.

The New Tesla Model

Ofer Levin GTI noted that the new Tesla Model Y had been received pretty well in the automotive market, especially in Europe. The first batch, which was a trial, sold out quickly, and the company is now considering going into full production capacity.

The mid-sized SUV is versatile enough to carry seven passengers and luggage. You can fold the seats on the second row independently to create more space for extra luggage.

With the current developments, Tesla is headed for a big win. The world is looking for ways to preserve the environment, yet one of the most significant pollutants has always been automobile emissions. Electric vehicles are the solution to this issue, and any government concerned with environmental conservation will encourage its citizens to drive electric vehicles.

In addition, Tesla’s electric vehicles have redefined comfort. They have the most extended range and fastest acceleration ever seen in any vehicle model. The high performance and the inbuilt efficiency ensure that your road trips are smooth and enjoyable.

Besides all the convenience that comes with electric vehicles, Tesla Inc has been kind enough to reduce the model 3 by up to 9% in the European market. This move is part of the attempt to promote the consumption of clean energy. While Tesla is doing well, other models are coming up pretty fast, such as the Volkswagen ID.3 electric hatch.

Media contacts:

Ofer Levin GTI
oferlevin7@gmail.com
Vienna, Austria

Charles Paddock Zoo Adds Solar Energy System

The solar energy system was donated and installed last summer by local solar installer, Solarponics.

Atascadero, CA, USA — The Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero adds solar energy system as part of their ongoing conservation mission. They join other zoo’s including; Cincinnati Zoo, Toledo Zoo, Knoxville Zoo, Saint Louis Zoo, Oakland Zoo, and San Diego Zoo, who have made a similar move to renewable energy.

The solar energy system was donated and installed last summer by local solar installer, Solarponics. The starter solar energy system produces about 5% of the zoo’s total energy demand and will save the zoo more than $75,000 over the life of the system. The ultimate goal is to install a solar array large enough to supply 100% of the zoo’s energy needs, saving hundred’s of thousands of dollars, savings that will go directly to the conservation and care of the zoo’s residents.

“We are excited about the future of our Zoo, adding solar, and upgrading our facilities to better manage the animal collection and enhance the experience for our zoo visitors,” said Alan Baker, zoo executive director. “We are dedicated to the conservation of local and exotic species in everything we do, including our entire energy and environmental footprint.”

Globally, the burning of fossil fuels releases carbon and other pollutants into the air, which directly contribute to climate change. It is these changes to our climate that are destroying critical wildlife habitat, causing habitat ranges to shift, increasing incidence of pests and invasive species, and decreasing availability of food and water. A failure to take decisive action now to reduce carbon pollution will affect one-third of all wildlife species facing increased risk of extinction within the next century.

The good news is the zoo is taking action to advance clean energy solutions that will protect wildlife and reduce their environmental impact.

“It was a great fit for us to be able to donate the starter system to the zoo. The donation supports our local community, builds solar awareness, and fits with the zoo’s conservation goals”, said Kristian Emrich, Solarponics Vice President.

Visitors are invited to Party For The Planet on Saturday, April 13 to check out the new solar energy system on the roof of the zoo’s gift shop, and learn about conservation programs happening at the zoo and throughout the central coast. Doors open at 10:00 AM.

About The Charles Paddock Zoo
The Charles Paddock Zoo was established in 1955 by Charles Paddock, a county parks ranger, who nursed animals back to health. Today the zoo is home to hundreds of local and exotic species from around the world. Many of the zoo residents are part of globally managed programs to preserve animals and their habitats. The zoo is located on five wooded acres, and is family friendly with the opportunity for children and adults to experience animals up close. The Charles Paddock Zoo is accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, placing them in an elite group of only 220 accredited institutions in North America. For hours, admission prices, events, visit http://www.charlespaddockzoo.org.

About Solarponics
Solarponics was founded in 1975 by Cal Poly engineering graduate, Mike Emrich, and is the oldest continuously operating solar energy company in California. Today, Solarponics installs solar electric, battery backup, EV charging systems, radiant heating & cooling, solar pool heating, water conservation and LED Commercial lighting for residential and commercial projects on the central coast. Their vision for the central coast is for every building to have a net-zero energy and resource consumption footprint. Visit http://www.solarponics.com or call (805) 466-5595 for more information.

Media Contact:
Frank Scotti
Solarponics, Inc.
805-466-5595
frank@solarponics.com

Local Solar Company

Ciel & Terre Completes Two New Floating Solar Projects in California and Colorado with Others Under Construction and Planned in U.S.

New Floating Solar Projects for Walden and Salad Cosmo Use Manmade Ponds for Cost-Effective Solar Power Using Ciel & Terre Patented Floating Photovoltaic Technology.

Petaluma, CA, USA — Ciel & Terre USA (http://www.ciel-et-terre.net), innovators in floating solar power systems, today announced the completion of two new floating solar projects. A municipal floating solar project in Walden, Colorado, and a private floating solar project for Salad Cosmo in Dixon, California, are producing cost-effective solar power to offset greenhouse gas emissions. Other larger projects are under construction and planned in the U.S.

The Town of Walden, Colorado, faced a challenge with rising energy costs, and by partnering with Johnson Controls on a performance contract, which was supported by Colorado Energy Office, Department of Local Affairs, and GRID Alternatives, the town installed a 75kW floating solar system with Ciel & Terre technology capable of potentially completely powering the town’s drinking water facility in certain months. The $400,000 project included a town-wide energy audit and a $200,000 investment from the town. Estimates are that Walden will save $10,000 per year in energy costs.

“The floating solar array is a milestone for the Town of Walden and highlights the potential for Colorado’s overall energy efforts,” said Rowena Adams, Performance Infrastructure™ account executive at Johnson Controls. “It was a practical choice for Walden given the surrounding bodies of water and the town’s energy resiliency efforts at the Town Water Treatment Facility, as well as the desire to conserve water and minimize algae growth. At Johnson Controls, we are always looking for sustainable environments to work with and Walden has become a prime example of what can be achieved through strong partnerships.”

“We were excited to be a part of Colorado’s first floating solar installation,” said Jake Bobrow, Project Manager for GRID Alternatives. “Having installed many ground and roof mounted systems, we were also delighted with how easy Ciel & Terre’s system was to assemble and install.”

Salad Cosmo USA, a family-owned bean sprout producer in Dixon, California, has made an environment commitment that includes using recyclable packaging, composting waste products for use in the fields, and irrigating with waste water. As part of that commitment, Salad Cosmo wanted a sustainable energy solution for production and hired Sky Power Solar of San Ramon, California, to install a 600 kWp floating solar plant using Ciel & Terre’s floating photovoltaic technology.

“Placing a solar system on our farm land would have reduced the yield of our agricultural products that we need from that land. And in summer time the temperature of the panels does not rise on the water as much as it would on the land, and that improves the solar panel efficiency,” said Masahiro Nakada, CEO OF Salad Cosmo U.S.A Corp.

“The Ciel & Terre solution enabled Salad Cosmo to utilize the surface area of the pond, saving land for more productive uses. The system is easy to install and well-engineered,” said Bob Winn, President of Sky Power Solar. “We look forward to doing more of these projects.”

“These two installations demonstrate that floating solar has become a compelling energy solution for both municipal water treatment and private industry anywhere in the U.S.,” said Eva Pauly-Bowles, Representative Director for Ciel & Terre USA, Inc. “With demand for solar power continuing to rise and available real estate becoming more expensive, floating solar is the ideal solution for anyone with a manmade pond or body of water. It’s cost-effective, quick to install, easy to maintain, and offers a variety of environmental benefits. Floating solar is no longer an exotic niche in the US, but a rapidly growing sector of the solar market. Ciel & Terre USA has other larger floating solar projects under construction and planned across the country.”

Deploying a floating solar array on manmade bodies of water improves energy production by keeping the solar system cooler. At the same time it reduces evaporation, controls algae growth, and reduces water movement to minimize bank erosion. Floating solar arrays also make optimal use of pond surfaces, providing clean solar energy without committing expensive real estate or requiring rooftop installations.

About Ciel & Terre
Established in 2006 as a renewable Independent Power Producer (IPP), Ciel & Terre has been fully devoted to floating solar PV since 2011. The French company pioneered Hydrelio®, the first specific and industrialized system to make solar panels float on water, with criteria such as cost-effectiveness, safety, longevity, resistance to winds and waves, simplicity, drinking water compliance, and optimized electrical yield.

Ciel & Terre has floating solar installations in Japan, Korea, China, UK, France, Brazil, Singapore, Malaysia, Italy, Taiwan as well as the United States. The company has its United States headquarters in Petaluma, California.

For more information, visit http://www.ciel-et-terre.net.

Contact:
Tom Woolf
Woolf Media & Marketing
415.842.7398
tomw@woolfmedia.com

Ciel & Terre Delivers First California Public Floating Solar System for Lake County Special Districts – Kelseyville County Waterworks, Dist. #3

International Innovator in “Floatovoltaic” Technology Enables 252kW Clean Energy Project by Floating 720 Solar Panels on Kelseyville Wastewater Treatment Pond.

Kelseyville, CA, USA — Ciel & Terre USA (http://www.ciel-et-terre.net), innovators in floating solar power systems, today announced completion of a new 252 kW floating photovoltaic power system for the Lake County Special Districts on behalf of Kelseyville County Waterworks Dist. #3 in partnership with local contractor North Coast Solar. Financed by a municipal lease, the Ciel & Terre® Hydrelio solar power system is being floated on a man-made wastewater treatment pond in Kelseyville and is expected to produce up to 1,650 kWh in its first year.

This is the first public floating solar power system installed in California. The installation itself consists of 720 floating solar panels mounted together and delivering electrical power safely to shore using solar optimizers provided by SolarEdge to maximize inverter output. The municipal lease for the installation gives the county positive cash flow starting the first year, so no cash investment was required to pay for the system. Once the Kelseyville solar installation proves successful, the Lake County Special District is considering installing additional floating solar power systems around the county.

“We are excited to be able to take advantage of clean energy using Ciel & Terre’s floating solar systems,” said Jan Coppinger, Special Districts Administrator for Lake County. “We didn’t have available land or rooftop space suitable for this project, but our wastewater treatment pond had enough surface area to accommodate a sizable solar system. Floating is a great way to control algae growth in the pond at the same time we generate virtually free energy. All costs to provide utilities continue to increase, which forces Special Districts to seek out and implement any means possible to reduce future costs. This floating solar system will result in significant savings in future years.”

Floating solar is an ideal solution for any utility district since it generates clean energy at the same time it provides other water conservation benefits. Floating a solar array on man-made bodies of water improves energy production by keeping the solar system cooler. At the same time it reduces evaporation, controls algae growth, and reduces water movement to minimize bank erosion. It also makes optimal use of pond surfaces, providing clean solar energy without committing expensive real estate or requiring rooftop installations.

“Municipal water districts, wineries, farms, and others want to adopt solar but they don’t want to commit land that could be used for other purposes,” said Eva Pauly-Bowles, Representative Director for Ciel & Terre USA, Inc. “Installing floating solar systems gives them ready access to green energy while helping them manage their water resources. We expect we will see more demand for floating solar systems, especially in light of California’s commitment to produce only carbon-free electricity by 2045.”

The Kelseyville project is only one of four floating solar power installations being completed this summer using the patented Ciel & Terre® Hydrelio system in Q3 2018 delivering 5.3 MW.

About Ciel & Terre
Established in 2006 as a renewable Independent Power Producer (IPP), Ciel & Terre has been fully devoted to floating solar PV since 2011. The French company pioneered Hydrelio®, the first specific and industrialized system to make solar panels float on water, with criteria such as cost-effectiveness, safety, longevity, resistance to winds and waves, simplicity, drinking water compliance, and optimized electrical yield.

Ciel & Terre has floating solar installations in Japan, Korea, China, UK, France, Brazil, Singapore, Malaysia, Italy, Taiwan as well as the United States. The company has its United States headquarters in Petaluma, California.

For more information, visit http://www.ciel-et-terre.net.

Media Contact:
Tom Woolf
Woolf Media & Marketing
415.842.7398
tomw@woolfmedia.com

City of Paso Robles Reaches 1,000 Solar Home Installs

Last month, Paso Robles resident Dan Robinson applied for a solar energy permit. Little did he know that his application would be the 1,000th alternative energy permit filed in the city of Paso Robles.

Atascadero, CA, USA — Last month, Paso Robles resident Dan Robinson decided he wanted to save money and do the right thing when he called Solarponics and applied for a solar energy permit to install solar on his home. Little did he know that his application would be the 1,000th alternative energy permit filed in the city of Paso Robles. With Mr. Robinson’s solar install, Paso became the first city to reach 1,000 installs in San Luis Obispo county.

“These seven panels on my roof can do the same for me as a multi-billion dollar power plant… with no pollution,” says Mr. Robinson. “Solar makes so much sense on so many levels. It’s the right way to go.”

Solar energy first became popular in the late 1970’s when President Carter installed solar water heating panels on the White House. At the time, electric rates hovered around a low of 5¢/kWh. Solar electric and solar water heating systems were still quite a bit more expensive than ulitily-purchased energy.

Since the mid, California has seen a nearly 300% increase in the price of energy, currently averaging 19¢/kWh, while solar energy prices have dropped significantly, making solar electric far more affordable than grid-tied energy today.

Nationally, solar installs in the U.S. have grown from 1.2 gigawatts (GW) in 2008 to an estimated 34GW today. Paso Robles has gone from under 20kW of solar installs in 2008 to over 6 megawatts (MW) of residential solar today. This equates to more than $50 million in collective energy savings for Paso Robles homeowners over the next 20 years.

“Even with the recently imposed solar panel tariffs, solar energy continues to be a significant money-saver. The more energy rates increase, the more solar makes sense. And rates are always increasing.” says Kristian Emrich, Solarponics vice-president.

To celebrate the 1,000th residential solar energy install in Paso Robles, Solarponics is donating solar powered systems for electric golf carts to north county schools, and converting those electric golf carts to solar-power.

“Five years ago, we could not have imagined reaching this milestone…1,000 solar roofs in Paso… 10,000 county-wide. And now, here we are. Our vision is to see renewable energy systems on every single structure in the county. So, there’s a lot of work to do still,” says Mr. Emrich.

About Solarponics
Solarponics is the Central Coast’s go-to renewable energy installer, helping businesses and homeowners save money and achieve energy independence. Solarponics has installed over 5,000 energy systems throughout the county since 1975. The longest continuously owned and operated solar company in California, Solarponics is still privately owned and locally operated. For more information, visit http://www.solarponics.com, or like them on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/solarponics).

Media Contact:
Frank Scotti
Solarponics, Inc.
805-466-5595
frank@solarponics.com

More Than Just Solar

ADVENTURE KINGS SOLAR PANEL RANGE – HOW MUCH POWER DO I NEED?

Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2018-Jan-15 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — When you need to recharge yourself and your 12V system, look no further than an Adventure Kings Solar charging system.

We have pioneered a range that starts from a simple 10W USB solar charger to a fully fledged 250W output array with MPPT Regulation for absolute maximum output to give you the options to power your setup no matter what you take camping with you.

All Adventure Kings Solar panels use Monocrystalline silicone cell construction which is the most efficient panel design available remaining lightweight and compact whilst still outputting effective power for use at home or in the bush.

We have fully standalone systems that include a solar regulator in both hard framed designs or the more flexible folding solar blankets which are excellent for space saving in the back of your vehicle or for emergency use.

We even have a fully customisable 110W Hard mounted system that includes fittings so you can easily and permanently mount it to your vehicle, camper trailer, campervan, caravan or boat with your choice of solar regulator.

We stock both the easy to operate low cost PWM style of regulator that has become the standard across the industry, or you can upgrade to one of our high efficiency, high output MPPT style regulators which gives you up to 30% more efficiency in cloudy or overcast conditions ensuring you get the most out of your solar setup no matter what the weather conditions.

Adventure Kings maintains its reputation for supplying functional camping setups whilst also still offering some of the most affordable solar setups available to the Australian market!

Whatever your 12V setup, Adventure Kings has a Solar charging system to efficiently top up your batteries and run accessories, with zero running costs and zero noise, whilst you kick back and relax and enjoy your favorite campsite in peace and quiet….When you are looking for a solar panel setup, you can’t look past an Adventure Kings Solar setup.

When you’re building a tourer or planning a campsite in your head, solar panels should always be a consideration – they are a source of free, limitless power after all – but how do you know what panel to choose!?

Luckily Adventure Kings has a wide range of panels, that won’t break the bank.

There are two main considerations to make when choosing a solar panel – how much power you use and how much space you have to pack your panel/s.

First, to calculate your requirements, consider how many 12 volt accessories you use at camp.

Generally all electrical products will have a wattage listed (check for a sticker near the power cord) you can use this wattage to calculate the real-time amps the product will use while it’s on. Some products may also list an Amp/Hour rating which simply gives an average on the total amount of amps used per hour the product is turned on. For example, the Adventure Kings 60L fridge/freezer is rated to use less than 1 amp/hour when the interior is set at 5°C and the outside temperature is 32°C.

So let’s work through an example:

You arrive at camp at 6pm on Friday, and it’s 32°C – your fridge is down to temperature at 5°C thanks to being plugged in while you drive and you’re ready for an icy cold beverage while you light the campfire, roll out your swag and set up the awning. Then you set up an Illuminator Strip Light and as the sun sets you turn it on and wind it down for ambient light.

As the temperature drops into the night your fridge will use less power, but every time you open it for a bevvy it has to work to cool back down again, so we’ll assume the fridge is using the rated 0.83Amp/Hours all night and into the morning. 6pm to 8am the fridge has used around 12 amp hours. The Illuminator strip light was on for 5 hours total and uses 0.4A at its low level for a total of 2A

So between 6pm and 8am you used 14 Amps total – whether you have a 98AH or 115AH deep cycle battery you’ve still got plenty of juice.

But throughout the next day your fridge will continue to use power. Between 8am Saturday and 8am Sunday it will use another 24 Amps. Add another 5 hours of strip light use for 2Amps and add in a phone charge using a cig socket USB adapter rated at 12W – that’s another Amp per hour your phone is on charge. In this case your phone is charged in 2 hours so that’s another 2Amps. Plus you use your Thumper to inflate some inner tubes to relax and float in the river – you use your Thumper for 15 minutes. To calculate the amps used per hour, you find the instantaneous power listed on the sticker (45Amps) and because you’ve used it for a quarter of an hour, calculate one quarter of 45. For this example we’ll call it 12Amp/Hours.

So Saturday to Sunday morning 8am you’ve used 40Amp/Hours – combine this with the Friday night total 14Amps and you’re looking at 54Amp/Hours – at this point your Deep cycle battery has used over 55% capacity if you’ve got the 98AH battery, and over 46% capacity if you’re using a 115AH battery.

You’re planning to leave camp at 4pm so the fridge still needs to be powered by your battery for a further eight hours. That’s another 8Amp/Hours, bringing the total weekend use up to 62Amp/Hours. 63% of your 98AH battery and 53% of your 115AH battery – you should definitely add a solar panel to keep those batteries charged!

Now you can look at the output of the different solar panels available.

4WD Supacentre offers a 110W fixed solar panel, a 120W Folding Solar blanket (with PWM regulator) a 160W Folding solar kit (with PWM regulator) and a 250W folding solar panel kit (with PWM regulator). The table below shows their maximum charging amperage (assuming the same PWM regulator for all panels) as well as the estimated total Amp/Hours after 6,8 and 10 hours of sun light.

So even six hours of sunlight on the Saturday and Sunday and your battery will have recharged at least 72A/H with a 110W Fixed Solar Panel (with added PWM regulator.) This would cover your power usage and keep your batteries charged. Of course, this is only a guide and your actual consumption may vary depending on many factors including, but not limited to, the outside temperature, fridge temperature, battery condition, wiring size and condition, solar panel angle and position etc etc.

The second consideration is the amount of space you have in your vehicle – for smaller vehicles, a 120W portable Solar blanket is perfect as it packs down to a compact size and still packs a punch.

For permanent mounting solar panels, the choice is obvious – a 110W fixed solar panel (or two!) These feature a thicker aluminium frame and don’t come with a regulator so you can connect your own, use a DC to DC charger and even connect multiple.

For bigger vehicle where space is less of a priority a 160 or 250 watt folding solar panel is ideal. You can set these at varying angles to catch the sun, and they mean you can park in the shade and have your panel in the sun doing the hard work! They also provide plenty of power for bigger camp setups or hotter conditions where your fridge is working more to keep your drinks cool.

Contact-Details: OJ Aba
Jaba@4wdsupacentre.com.au
https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au