9. June 2009 by Mykel Pereira.

Utility Scale Solar, Inc.
Suite 300
228 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Phone: 650-798-5152    FAX: 650-798-5001
Email: info [at] utilityscalesolar.com

About

Utility Scale Solar, Inc. and its management team are dedicated to helping states, utilities, solar power plant builders, operators and investors achieve market rate with solar electric power generation and thereby make easy and inevitable the switch to carbon-free renewables.

Peter Childers, CEO and President

Peter Childers has 18 years experience leading advanced technology companies and business lines in a career that spans microelectronics manufacturing, telecommunications, systems management software, open source, and clean energy. Pete has played key roles leading innovation, operations and growth at companies from early stage thru IPO to NYSE listing. Pete specializes in developing opportunites in fully commoditized or new and disruptive fields where experts are saying, “that can’t be done”. The teams he develops create flexible business mechanisms that deliver overwhelmingly better customer value than competitors. In 1998 Pete joined open source software pioneer Red Hat, Inc. [NYSE: RHT] as employee 41, where he founded and grew the company’s second largest line of business to $60M, attracting over 500,000 paying customers worldwide and changing the game in software, IT training and certification in an arena where everyone was saying “that can’t be done”. Pete also developed online strategy and online business for this highly successful publicly traded company, ranked #1 for customer value 5 years in a row by CIO magazine. In 2007 Pete moved to Silicon Valley where he has been advising open source companies and developing new technology and ventures on the energy and cleantech frontier. Pete is co-inventor of the Megahelion drive.

Jonathan Blitz, CTO and VP Product Development

Jonathan Blitz is a versatile technologist with a background in ceramics, high temparature materials science and over five years of clean energy innovation. A graduate of the University of Missouri, Blitz spent five years in management at a ceramics equipment company and is a specialist in kiln firing and heating technologies and related materials science. Blitz has experience in design and maintenance of gas, electric and oil process heating control systems; biofuel processing and related engine and furnace modifications; piping, welding and manufacturing technologies and manufacturing suited to high heat-stress environments. An early pioneer and innovator in alternative fuels, Blitz has logged over 60,000 miles in his ‘Frytruck’, a Ford F250 diesel modified to refine and burn straight vegetable oil. A cum laude graduate of St. Louis University’s School of Law, Blitz served a two-year appointment as law clerk to a Senior United States Judge in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Blitz is licensed and has practiced in Missouri, Illinois and North Carolina. Blitz is co-inventor of the Megahelion drive.

James Carucci, P.E., Chief of Plant Design and Engineering

James Carucci, P.E. is a professional engineer with 3 decades of leadership and achievement in advanced energy systems, thermodynamic systems analysis, and power plant design. An early innovator in CSP, Jim led a 1979 team project for a solar thermal concentrator that delivered steam to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s steam system over 16 years. At GE Power Systems Division Jim developed system designs for 60 MW solar thermal receivers, high temperature battery arrays, fuel cells, and IGCC. At UTC/Carrier Corporation Jim designed structures and piping systems for 250kW packaged fuel cell power plants. At Plug Power Jim tested and developed system designs for fuel cell power plants, including hybrid designs combining organic Rankine cycle, hydrogen storage, air and fuel compressors, and absorption refrigeration. Jim’s experience and talent in advanced energy technology, mechanical/electrical systems architecture, economic energy analysis, design/implementation, and systems integration/testing make him uniquely suited to lead the plant engineering team at USS, Inc. and bring next generation CSP innovations and new cost-efficient CSP plant designs to customers.

Tony Seba, Vice-President, Corporate Development

Tony Seba is a Silicon Valley industry veteran with 20 years operating experience in fast-growth high technology companies as CEO, CFO, and GM of major business lines in software, hardware, online B2B and supply chain businesses. Over the span of his career Tony has launched and organized project financing for more than 20 new products and product lines. As founder and CEO of PrintNation.com Tony raised $30 million in investment capital. Prior to PrintNation.com Tony held key positions leading business development and strategy for Cisco Systems and for RSA Data Security. Tony is the author of Winners Take All - The 9 Fundamental Rules of High Tech Strategy. A global executive who teaches and advises other global executives, Tony has been invited to teach high tech strategy and entrepreneurship at business schools and business development organizations worldwide. Tony is a lecturer at Stanford in high tech finance, strategy, and entrepreneurship.

Ben Shyman, Director, Finance and Business Development

Ben Shyman has 12 years experience in financial and economic analysis of traditional and renewable energy projects and markets, including comparative analysis. Ben provides financial models and analysis for USS clients, developers, lenders and investors. Ben works with clients on detailed analysis of plant capital cost, O&M, LEC, PPA, cashflow, project finance, and international finance. Prior to joining USS Ben was Founder, Managing Member and Senior Portfolio Manger of The Haussler Group, LLC, a New York based hedge fund specializing in energy, commodities and basic materials. From 2000 to 2006 Ben was Portfolio Manager and Securities Analyst for John A. Levin & Company, with primary focus on energy and responsible for over one billion dollars of investments in the Firm’s value-oriented portfolios. Ben also served as Portfolio Manager of the Firm’s Global Energy Sector Strategy Fund. Ben was Equity Research Analyst at First Albany Corporation and Research Associate at Gerard Klauer Mattison & Company. Ben earned a BA from SUNY, Binghamton in 1992 and a MBA from Columbia University in 1996.

Products

USS was founded on advances in single and multi-axis positioning that enable new architectures for solar tracking across all solar formats. USS provides low cost, super-robust heliostats and sun-tracking systems for utility scale CSP, CPV, and Tracking PV based power generation.

Heliostats and sun-tracking systems account for 25% - 55% of CSP, Tracking PV, CPV plant capital costs and O&M costs. USS lowers these costs dramatically. Our products also enable significant savings on plant infrastructure and balance of system. USS delivers the full value of your total solar capture investment at far lower cost, creating potential for plant profitability at peak or baseload without subsidy or tax credit.

Megahelion[TM] dual axis heliostats for CSP, sun trackers for PV, CPV

• Accepts any size mirror, or PV array, or CPV array, from 4m² to 144m²
• Robust drive technology
  • Indifferent to wind loads whether sustained or gusting
  • Indifferent to weight: spaceframe and applications can be of any metal
  • Impervious to dust, moisture and vibration
• Only five moving parts
• No gears, and therefore no backlash
• Continuous smooth motion without stepping
• Precision results achieved with non-precision components
• Massive power: capable of up to 100,000 foot pounds of hinge moment
• Better aiming with no degradation in accuracy over time
• Sustains accuracy levels required for CSP, CPV over life of plant (25 years)
• Improved manageability
  • Repair or replace drive components without dismasting
  • Self-powered option, no need to wire heliostat field
  • Fewer repairs, less costly repairs, more uptime
  • Can be maintained, repaired, or replaced on site by semi-skilled tradesmen
• Lower cost of capital
• Lower operating cost
• Lower LCOE: 11% to 35% lower, depending on solar format and other factors

Megahelion[TM] line: single axis tracking for TPV, Trough, Fresnel

• All of the above benefits in a simplified single-axis drive
• Can be sized and adapted to drive
  • Long rows of trough for CSP
  • Fresnel panels for CSP
  • Long rows or arrays for single axis Tracking PV
• OEM solutions available to qualified distributors, suppliers, integrators

Posted in California, Solar Techs, USA | No Comments »

9. June 2009 by Mykel Pereira.

 SunNight Solar

5802 Val Verde St.
Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77057

Email: info@sunnightsolar.com

About

SunNight Solar is leading a new movement in delivering products to the consumer, focusing on what is being called a ‘triple bottom line’ or a 3P approach – people, planet and profits. All of their operations and programs have all three of these elements – they have integrated social and environmental benefits into every aspect of their company, while earning the profits which allow them to grow, develop new products via dedicated research and development and provide a return to their employees and investors.

The founder of SNS, Mark Bent, lived in Africa for over twenty years, first as an American diplomat, then as an oil executive for a French firm. While living in Eritrea in 2005, he wanted to provide lights to some of his friends, employees, and some children he had befriended who survived by scavenging in the local dump. When he could not find anything suitable – he started SNS, made a light which is now the leader in off-grid lighting products in Africa, parts of south and Central America . They also anticipate this light – their SunLight series – to quickly become the flashlight of choice in the US , Europe and the rest of the developing world.

They are based in Houston , Texas . The senior management team has a variety of skills, backgrounds and areas of concentration – international sales, chief of operations, head of logistics, etc. They are also augmented by a team of research scientists, engineers and specialists, some based in the US , as well as a number from Europe, China , New Zealand and elsewhere. They bring people together for specific tasks, and also have the opportunity to call upon the top universities and scientists in the world - they greatly appreciate the benefits of on-line collaborative research. They partner with a firm called Innocentive - www.innocentive.com – which offers cash awards for ‘solving’ technical challenges.

They are working on additional products – lights as well as water treatment and other solar consumer products. They are presently involved in research on a solar powered device which kills, repels or sterilizes the female mosquito. They are also looking at hydroponics.

Products

SL-1

Features 

• Night Glow Strip - it is easy to find in the dark
• High efficiency Polycrystalline Solar Panel
• Charges in 8 to 10 hours of full sunlight
• Provides 5-6 hours of illumination every night
• Hard ABS Plastic Exterior - highly water and shock resistant and shaped to fit comfortably in your hand
• Carrying Hook - hook it to your backpack on the go, or hang it up to illuminate a wider area
• Battery Compartment - powered by 3 standard NiMH, AA rechargeable batteries, 800 mAh
• 6 Super Bright White LEDs
• Dimensions (Length x Width x Thickness):  8.5″ x 2.5″ (body) or 3.625″ (head) x 1″ (body) or 2″ (head)

SL-2

Features

• Electronic “kerosene lantern substitution” design funded by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. In 3rd world use this same light will save users money presently spent on lighting kerosene and reduce carbon particulate inhalation and fire risk
• High efficiency “boost converter” and “constant current” LED drive ensures constant user selected level of brightness regardless of state of battery charge
• Charge termination to protect batteries from over-charging
• Turns off when battery is almost flat to protect battery and improve battery life
• High efficiency Polycrystalline Solar Panel
• Batteries charge in 8 to 10 hours of full sunlight
• Batteries are air-cooled for better operation in very hot conditions
• Wide beam “Room Light” and bright narrow beam Task light mode
• Low, medium and high settings in both Room Light and Task Light modes. This allows either high intensity or extended periods of use. On a fully charged battery, high will typically operate for 4 to 5 hours, medium for 8 to 10 hours and low for 16 to 20+ hours. (Duration will reduce as batteries age)
• Night glow strip - easy to find in the dark
• Single piece case - rugged, requiring no screws to hold the body together
• Water resistant
• “Turn off in sun” and “turn off when nearly flat” features allows use in path light or night light mode. Small battery reserve allows auto turn on again with same setting next evening
• Carabineer clip for one handed attachment to backpack, ropes, branches etc
• Half Watt polycrystalline (not amorphous) high efficiency photovoltaic panel.
• Six narrow angle high efficiency LEDs for task light illumination
• Three wide angle high efficiency LEDs for room illumination
• Three NiMH batteries - better for the environment - We do not use NiCad batteries
• High impact resistance ABS body & polycarbonate lens
• Dimensions   Length     x     Width     x     Thickness:  Head/Body      9″          x 3.8″ / 2.4″   x      2.3″ / 1.3″
• Weight - 11 ounces / 300 grams

Additional Comments from Our Engineering Staff - The SL-2 Super BOGO light is intended to be a rugged, long life, solar rechargeable light whose primary purpose is for kerosene lantern replacement and task lighting in developing world applications. It was designed to provide wide angle illumination with more usable light than a kerosene hurricane lantern in rooms up to 4 x 4 meters, or as a study or work lamp over a table, while also providing a bright directional “task light” beam when more directed light is required.  In a kerosene lantern replacement role it can save users in excess of 30% of their monthly energy expenditures while eliminating fine carbon particle inhalation and preventing injuries from burns due to kerosene spillage or similar accidents.

The features which make it suited to its primary role in the developing world also make it a great light for use for camping, automobile use and as a light you will always have ready in an emergency.  Leave it where the sun shines on it and you will get hours of operation when needed.  With a fully charged original battery the SL-2 will typically operate for 4 to 5 hours on full power, about twice that on its medium power settings and 4 times as long on low power.

The SL-2 uses a high efficiency polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic panel (or PV panel or ’solar panel’) to charge its batteries.  The charging capability is limited by the size of the panel which would fit on the light, as in the SL-1. Depending on battery state it takes 8 to 10 “sunlight hours” (hours of direct full sunlight) to charge the supplied three 800 mAh NiMH batteries.  Users can choose to fit larger capacity batteries which will take proportionately longer to charge.  In African summer conditions a full charge should be able to be achieved in a single day. In less sunny conditions only a partial charge will be achieved in one day.  A light which is only occasionally used can accumulate a full charge over a number of days.  When the light is in use every night, as it will often be in developing world use, the hours of use per night correspond to daily sunlight hours. The medium and low power modes allow users to reduce lighting levels to allow longer lighting times when charging conditions are poor. On full power users get about 30+ minutes of lighting per sunshine hour. On medium power they get about 1 hour of operation per sunshine hour. And on low power, about 2 hours operation per sunshine hour.  So with 2 to 3 sunshine hours in a day a user can expect 4 to 6 hours of low level but useable light.

When suspended vertically about 1 meter above a 2 x 2 meter (6 foot x 6 foot) table an SL-2 will provide enough light for reading or other work. The light levels are low by grid lighting standards but surprisingly useable once your eyes adapt.  In a smaller area, say 1m x 1m (3 foot x 3 foot) a number of people can still read or work usefully at substantially higher light levels.  In all cases the light illuminates the surface better than a kerosene wick-lantern or hurricane style lantern would.

Unlike most other lights in its class, the light output of the SL-2 remains at the user selected level regardless of the state of battery charge (except as the battery nears the very, very end of its capacity levels will fall off).  To maximize battery life, operate the LEDs correctly and provide constant lighting levels the Sl-2 uses a “boost converter” - essentially an ‘electronic gearbox’, which takes the slowly dropping battery voltage and boosts it to a level suitable for providing a constant operating current for the LEDs. Unlike most LED lights the SL-2 operates its LEDs electrically “in series” so that the same current flows through all operating LEDs. This allows the current and thus the brightness to be closely controlled so that the LEDs are operated in the manner recommended by the manufacturers.

When the battery capacity is almost exhausted the light will first dim, then flash, then the LEDs will turn off completely. A small amount of battery capacity remains and this is used to “keep alive” the control circuitry in a “standby mode”. If a light which turns off due to a low battery condition is then exposed to sunlight it will charge its battery and then, when the sunlight is again removed, turn on again in the same mode as it was in previously. This feature allows the light to be used as an automatic path light, streetlight or nightlight. To achieve regular operation in this mode the light needs to be placed so that it is charged daily. (For 10 hours of night time, a light set on low will operate throughout the night when charged for 5 sunlight hours or more. If there are less than 5 sunlight hours available the light may turn off before dawn but will still usually operate well into the night. If the light is not charged the battery capacity will continue to drop.  When it reaches too low a level the light will reset fully and the light will then draw no battery current but the last mode is no longer remembered.  If a battery is removed or a battery “door” is unscrewed more than about 1/4 turn the light will turn off and the last mode will not be ‘remembered’.

When an operating light is placed in sunlight so that charging starts the LEDs will turn off. The light “remembers” what mode it was in and restarts in this mode when the sunlight is removed. If the light is charged for long enough to fully charge the battery, the charging then stops to protect the battery from over charging.

Battery capacity will decrease with time. Use of user installed larger capacity batteries can be expected to provide longer battery life both because of the extra initial capacity and because the batteries are not “deep cycled” so often in normal use.   Battery capacity is measured in mAh (milliamp hours). Operating time on a fully charged battery is about mAh/200 hours. The initially provided batteries are 800 mAh capacity and will provide 4+ hours of full power operation. If users fit eg 2500 mAh batteries they can expect about 2500/200 = 12+ hours of operation. Charging time is about mAh/80 sunshine hours. So an 800 mAh battery will take 800/80 = 10 sunshine hours to fully charge and a 2500 mAh battery about 2500/80 ~= 30 sunshine hours. On a good day charging will exceed these levels but these are a good guide of what may be typically expected in full sunshine. Obviously it will take several days of full sunlight to fully charge a 2500 mAh battery. Batteries will charge when light levels are lower than full sun, but charging will take longer.  Charging starts with about 6% sunlight and increases approximately linearly with increasing light levels.  A very bright but clouded sky can charge at 25% to 50% of maximum rate.  When charging, to achieve maximum charge rate the panel should be angled to point as directly at the sun as possible.  If leaving in the sun all day, angle the light so that it points at the “arc” in the sky that the sun travels over and so the light is pointing squarely at where the sun will be at midday. (Easier to do than describe).  If desired the light can be moved several times during the day for best effect, but the gains are surprisingly small compared to aligning the light in its best position initially.

Note that batteries MUST be inserted with all the positive ends DOWN (non-flat ends inserted first). The battery doors can be screwed tight, or opened, using a coin

Posted in Lighting Techs, Texas, Solar Techs, USA | No Comments »

9. June 2009 by Mykel Pereira.

Iogen Corporation

310 Hunt Club Rd. East
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1V 1C1

Phone: 613-733-9830

Email: info@iogen.ca

About

Technology

Cellulosic Ethanol Technology

Iogen’s cellulosic ethanol process uses advanced new technology to make ethanol from biomass. The process combines innovations in pre-treatment, state-of-the-art enzyme technology, and advanced fermentation technology. Pre-treated fibre is converted to sugars using enzymes; sugars are subsequently fermented to ethanol; and ethanol is purified to fuel.

Enzyme Technology

Enzyme technology is one of the key areas of Iogen’s innovation. Iogen owns and operates a large-scale state-of-the-art enzyme manufacturing facility in Ottawa, Canada. The plant serves customers around the world with products designed for specific-use applications. The company’s core skills include protein engineering, enzyme expression, fermentation development, enzyme manufacturing, enzyme application engineering, and operation of enzyme-based reactions.

Iogen’s enzymes are now used in the pulp and paper, textile and animal feed industries. In the pulp and paper industry, Iogen enzymes help decrease the amount of chlorinated chemicals used in bleaching, as well as reduce production costs. In the textile, industry enzymes help fade, soften or depill fabrics and garments. In the animal feed industry, enzymes help chickens and pigs digest their food. Iogen’s enzyme products include the BioBrite®, Denabraide®, and Fibrilase® enzyme product lines.

Iogen’s line of enzymes for cellulosic ethanol production is currently being used in the company’s demonstration plant. These enzymes will be available for sale in conjunction with technology licenses for the cellulosic ethanol facilities in the future.

What are enzymes?

• Enzymes are “active” proteins that can increase (catalyze) the rate of biochemical reactions.
• Enzymes are natural chemicals made and used by living organisms but are themselves “non-living”.
• Industrial enzymes are safe and natural. Enzymes are even used to make foods such as pop, fruit, bread and beer!

Bio-Products

Iogen Bio-Products focuses on making high quality enzymes for industries that process fibre. Our three primary enzyme markets are: pulp and paper, textile, and animal feed. In each market, we combine our extensive knowledge of enzyme development and manufacturing with an understanding of the customer’s application to make market-leading products. Each industry has a custom-developed product satisfying different requirements.

• In the pulp and paper market, Iogen sells directly to pulp mills with substantial start-up support, equipment, on-site service, and after trial support.
• In the textile market, Iogen sells to a limited number of re-formulators who include Iogen’s products in their formulations and service end-users.
• In the animal feed industry, Iogen has a supply agreement with DSM for the exclusive manufacture and worldwide distribution of enzymes.

Manufacturing and Quality Control

Iogen is committed to offering consistent, reliable enzymes that meet the performance expectations of its customers. The company’s manufacturing operation is ISO 9003 compliant, and makes products using application-based test methods to validate the product performance.

Posted in Biomass Techs, Canada, Biofuel Techs | No Comments »

9. June 2009 by Mykel Pereira.

Prism Solar Technologies, Inc.

180 South Street

Highland, NY 12528

Tel (845) 883-4200

Fax (845) 883-4394

About

Prism Solar Technologies designs and manufactures products that improve the efficiency of solar energy collection. Their mission is to help grow the solar energy industry through partnerships and cooperation, as a manufacturer of products such as holographic film and solar modules, and as a provider of technological and manufacturing expertise.

Prism Solar’s patented Holographic Planar Concentrator™ (HPC) technology incorporates inexpensive holographic films into solar panel construction, enabling them to generate higher yields from less photovoltaic material.

Our solar module designs incorporate HPC technology, 360-degree collection capability, and other advancements to generate the same yield as conventional solar panels but using 50-75% less silicon.

Prism partners with major solar panel manufacturers to dramatically improve panel efficiency, both through licensing of HPC technology and through sharing of technology and manufacturing expertise.

With facilities in Highland, New York and Tucson, Arizona, Prism is uniquely positioned to work in close partnership with manufacturers across the country.

Entering 2009, Prism is rapidly expanding its production capability to fulfill a substantial pro forma order backlog. Despite the difficult economic environment, Prism is extremely well positioned for growth through this year and well into the foreseeable future.

Technology

The Holographic Planar Concentrator™ (HPC) is the key technology in Prism Solar products. The HPC acts as an extremely low-cost concentrator, increasing the energy seen by solar cells by as much as 3X, without mechanical tracking or the need for cooling systems.

HPC consists of holographic imprinted HPC Film, placed in strips along side solar cells. The HPC Film diffracts only wavelengths of sunlight that can be converted to energy by the solar cells. This energy is guided, via total internal reflection in the panel, to the cells.

HPC technology improves solar module efficiency by:

• collecting direct, low angle, diffuse and reflected light
• keeping cells near peak efficiency through low light conditions
• keeping cells near their optimal temperature by allowing unusable wavelengths to pass through
• generating more kilowatt hours while using less silicon.

Modules using HPC Film do not require mechanical tracking systems or cooling systems. Since they collect over 360 degrees they can be mounted on flat or pitched roofs, as screening walls or even in windows.

HPC technology can be incorporated into existing solar module designs to dramatically improve efficiency and reduce cost. Solar panels based on monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, CdTe, CIGS or virtually any photovoltaic cells can benefit from HPC. The technology integrates easily into existing manufacturing, introducing few new processing steps while re-using almost all existing process equipment.

Prism Solar HPC Modules mounted on a rooftop in Tucson, Arizona.

Prism also designs solar modules that maximize the benefits of HPC technology. Prism shares its technological and manufacturing expertise with its partners, helping manufacturers to develop extremely competitive energy solutions in the shortest time possible.

Posted in New York, Solar Techs, USA | No Comments »