From the Nyack Permont Patch      Photo courtesy of Solar Boat Chronicles

Capt. Jim Greer’s dreamboat sat bobbing in the water at the Nyack Boat Club this past weekend for a rest before continuing its journey north up the Hudson River.

According to USA Today, the idea to build a solar powered boat, now named “Ra,” came to the 72-year-old from Colorado Spring, Colo., who built his first vessel at 14, when he didn’t have enough money to fuel his boat for a ride.

Six years later, the 48-foot trimaran that carries 15 solar panels is ready to set some records.

USA Today reports that Greer and three other strangers are sailing the Great Loop, a 6,000-mile stretch from Florida to the Eastern Seaboard, to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records for a TV show called “Solar Boat Chronicles.”

The voyage is expected to be completed in September.

Read the whole story here.

Initial phase of one of Japan’s largest solar power projects being operated by the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations and Mitsubishi Corporation

Kyocera is supplying approximately 30 megawatts (MW) of solar power generating systems to one of the largest solar power projects in Japan which is being implemented by the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (herein “Zen-Noh”) and Mitsubishi Corporation (herein “Mitsubishi”). Within the project, Kyocera Solar Corporation will be in charge of supplying, engineering, constructing, and maintaining a total of 30 MW of solar power generating systems to be installed at roughly 80 of the Zen-Noh Group's facilities (livestock barns, distribution centers, parking lots, etc.) around the country. The Kyocera order is worth approximately 8.5 billion yen (approx. 89 million US dollars*1), and comprises the initial phase of the project*2.

Aiming for the reinvigoration of the agricultural sector and local farming towns, as well as the further spread of renewable energy use, Zen-Noh and Mitsubishi are planning to build one of the country’s largest scale solar power projects by installing a total of 200 MW of solar power generating systems on farmers’ and Zen-Noh Group’s facilities nationwide by the end of FY2015. The two companies have established JAMC Solar Energy Company to operate the solar power project, and will sell the power generated from the installations to the regional utility power companies under Japan’s feed-in tariff program.

To learn more, click HERE.

After receiving a letter from Synergy stating they had been audited and their tariff would be changed from the L1 to L3 tariff, resulting in a 24.6% increase (6.3cents per unit) Mitre 10 Northam realised it was time to look at the energy management of the business.

With an annual consumption totalling over 130,000 kWh (units of electricity) the 6.3 cent tariff increase would have resulted in their power bill increasing by $6500p.a.  and Synergy informed Business Manager, Paul O’Driscol, one of the best ways to stay on the current L1 tariff would be to install a large solar system.

After weeks of research, with quotations from several solar companies, Mitre 10 Northam chose Save Energy Aus to supply and install the solar system.

As Paul explains: “we were inundated with quotes supplying inferior solar modules from China. What we liked about Save Energy Aus was the fact they gave us three options to choose from and provided an in-depth analyse of the running cost and yield of each option“.  The business chose premium Japanese Kyocera modules ahead of other cheaper – inferior manufactures “ what we liked about Kyocera is that they have been in the industry longer than anyone and they are the only manufacture with an office in Perth”. Paul went on to add “ they have consistently been the best performing manufacture at the independent testing facilities in Alice Springs and Murdoch University and we have used one on our farm for years!”

Paul was impressed with the professionalism and speed in which Save Energy Aus operated:

“From the first phone call we were impressed with the service we received. The team at Save Energy Aus took the time to discuss all options in great detail and answered all of our questions thoroughly – old fashion service which us country folk like. The installation went smoothly and the Kyocera modules certainly look great!”

To read the entire article, go HERE.