Web site of the month: Solar roundup

Public Renewables Partnership and Solar Living Institute are just a few of the Web sites available to educate power providers and the general public about solar energy. (Artwork by PRP and SLI)

If there is an energy- or utility-related Web site that you find especially useful, let us know. Contact the editor with your suggestion for Web site of the Month.

February is solar month for Energy Services Bulletin, so, like the November 2007 wind issue, this month's profile of Internet resources will look at several useful Web sites dedicated to solar power.

DOE program covers solar basics

Beginners can start with the Solar Energy Technologies Program, part of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The site groups solar technologies into four categories. While concentrating solar power gets only one page with links to more extensive sites, the photovoltaics, solar heating and solar lighting sections all have several pages worth of information. Solar Frequently Asked Questions covers the basics and applications for each type of solar power, as well as benefits, financial considerations and education resources. A Solar Glossary defines basic terms and the Solar Timeline gives a history of solar power use dating back to the 7th century B.C.

CSP technology focus of NREL research

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is conducting research on concentrating solar power. Projects focus on parabolic trough solar and advanced concentrating solar power technologies. These promising, utility-scale applications are not yet cost-effective, but have many advantages and offer great potential for cost reduction.

TroughNet, another NREL Web site, is a technical resource for evaluating parabolic trough solar powerplant technologies. Utilities, particularly in the sunny Southwest, can learn what the future may hold from overviews of solar field, thermal energy storage and powerplant system technologies.

More information on PV

Photovoltaic technology offers plenty of opportunity for quick and versatile development of renewable resources today. This type of solar generation is growing at 20 to 25 percent annually worldwide, much of that occurring in the United States. The Public Renewables Partnership solar section provides information on the different options for deploying solar arrays. Pages include an overview of PV technologies, cost factors and links to more resources.

Association aimed at utility participation

Once a utility moves past the research phase, the Solar Electric Power Association offers a variety of tools to help power providers integrate solar electricity into their mix.

Utility Solar Programs provides case studies to give renewable energy managers ideas for their own programs. Want to know more about how a specific program works? Utility Peer Match connects utilities with peers that are already implementing similar solar programs. SEPA will give permission to non-member electric utilities (municipal, cooperative, investor-owned, etc.) to access Utility Peer Match.

When it's time to evaluate options, decision makers will appreciate the Solar Programs Options Tool, an online tool that recommends and prioritizes solar electricity options for utilities. SPOT users provide basic information about their utility and then identify and rank their solar goals and objectives. Non-members have limited access to the tool.

Answering consumer questions

Because solar arrays are relatively easy for consumers to install, utilities are likely to get a lot of questions from customers. The big one, of course, is "What kind of incentives are available for installation?" Find the answers, state by state, in the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency. DSIRE also supplies the case studies for SEPA's Utility Solar Programs.

The American Solar Energy Society created The Home Energy Source for the specific purpose of answering consumer questions. ASES Communications Specialist Ken Scheinkopf writes a weekly column that visitors can access on the Web site or read in newspapers or Solar Today magazine. Users can also send Scheinkopf their questions.

The Solar Living Institute and Solar Energy International both offer workshops where participants can learn to build their own systems or just learn more about sustainability issues. SLI also provides a comprehensive links page that includes state solar organizations.

These are just a few of the resources available on the Internet to help power providers or consumers at any stage of their solar education. General renewable energy sites such as the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, American Council on Renewable Energy and the Renewable Energy Project also have pages on solar energy. Some address very specific issues or projects while others cover a broad range of topics. In short, with so much information available about this versatile renewable resource, there is no reason for anyone to be in the dark about solar power.

Resources

DOE EERE Solar Energy Technologies Program

DOE EERE concentrating solar power information

DOE EERE photovoltaics information

DOE EERE solar heating information

DOE EERE solar lighting information

DOE EERE Solar Frequently Asked Questions

DOE EERE Solar Glossary

DOE EERE Solar Timeline

NREL concentrating solar power program

TroughNet

TroughNet solar field research

TroughNet thermal energy storage research

TroughNet powerplant system research

Resources (cont.)

Public Renewables Partnership solar section

PRP PV technologies information

PRP PV cost factors information

PRP PV additional resources

Solar Electric Power Association

SEPA Utility Solar Programs

SEPA Solar Programs Options Tool

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency

The Home Energy Source

Solar Living Institute

Solar Energy International

SLI list of state solar organizations

Interstate Renewable Energy Council

American Council on Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy Project

People

Energy Services Bulletin editor

Related articles

Energy Services Bulletin November 2007 wind issue

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