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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Solar Thermal


I just had a very interesting conversation on one of my favorite topics: solar thermal, or concentrating solar power (CSP).  I came across Ahura Energy of Campbell, CA on the fantastic online resource OnGreen.com, and spoke with Dr. Fareed Sfard, the company’s CEO, who boasts over 20 years experience in the solar industry. Because we have no NDA in place at this point, Fareed needed to speak at a high level. But if what I was told is correct, the company’s patented Concentrating Solar System, that can be used in both utility scale and rooftop deployments, has a huge cost advantage over competitive approaches. “The system” (whatever this eventually turns out to be) moves the reflective and refractive elements without motors or electric actuators.

“But how?” I asked innocently. I could hear Fareed laughing politely. “That’s the secret sauce,” he chuckled. “In a given space, it produces 350% more power compared to traditional solar systems at one third the cost per kilowatt-hour.”

“Well, Dr. Sfard, I know some people at Ausra, which, of course, was sold last year to Areva. I’m sure I could arrange a conversation, if you’re interested in selling or licensing your technology.”

“That would be possible, though they see us as a threat,” he allowed.

“I would hope they do, sir!  That’s a good thing,” I replied. “In my experience, that’s the impetus behind most deals. Until business people are threatened, there’s no motive to deal with the problem,” I replied. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

From time to time, I’ve wondered what a movie version of Renewable Energy – Facts and Fantasies would look like. Well, I don’t have to wonder anymore. It’s been made. And it’s in theaters now. Check out CarbonNation.

It’s really as if I had written the script for every single participant in the film. There are lines like:

“It doesn’t matter whether or not you believe in global warming, as there are half a dozen other reasons to end our dependency on fossil fuels.” (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

I’m in the process of developing a presence on two different Internet radio sites. One wants to take all our video archives and broadcast them in a way that will require zero additional work on our part. It will cost us nothing, and the folks have made us partenrs in the business.  Needless to say, I like the sound of all that.

The other wants to try to make me the “Dr. Laura of renewable energy,” where I’ll host a radio talk show that the company’s CEO believes can become quite big. Of course, I like the sound of this too, although I’m unconvinced.  But I’m also up for the effort if it will forward the cause, even though it’s obvious that there will be serious work involved.

The CEO told me in first of our numerous conversations, “I spent hours listening to your stuff and making notes before I called you. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Plans for cuts to Germany’s solar incentive scheme provoked a stand-off earlier this month when Germany’s upper house, the Bundesrat, voted against the reductions. The government proposed cutting domestic installation incentives by 11 percent, while reducing feed-in tariffs for roof panels by 16 per cent.  The government also want to drop plans for new feed-in tariff payments for solar sites on agricultural land. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Uncategorized

Have you ever had difficulty getting the people in your life to share your passion on a subject?  This happens to me all the time.  I’ll try to get a friend, or my wife and kids to watch a certain really cool video, and I just can’t seem to muster the enthusiasm. 

I can’t count how many times I’ve recommended The Story of Stuff to people, only to realize that most folks simply won’t take the 20 minutes required to have what I know will be quite an enlightening experience, and leave them a better person for having made the investment.  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Biomass

A Canadian research council has backed plans for a 50,000 liter algae-based biofuel plant in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a C$5 million grant. The biofuel project aims to identify strains of algae that are already acclimatised to the local environment, making them easier to grow and less likely to cause ecological problems should they be accidentally released. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Uncategorized

I had a fascinating meeting yesterday with Greenopia’s director of research, Doug Mazeffa. Here’s a challenge for you: Go to their website, take a look at their undertaking, and try to guess how many people they have on their staff. I expected the number to run in the hundreds. How else could one expect accurate and up-to-date ratings on the “greenness” of companies in 54 different categories (21 of them in detail) in 250 cities around the country – not to mention their work overseas? In fact, this is all accomplished with a handful of people. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

I recently received this request:

Hi Craig, I have been doing some research to expose some of the efforts by fossil fuel interests in Canada to influence the debate on climate change. Your book made reference to energy companies’ admitting that they had participated in such activities in the past but claimed that they no longer did so. Would you be able to guide me to reference material on this topic, because they certainly have not stopped doing it here – with groups such as “Friends on Science.” (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

I could hear a collective moan from progressives when they saw that President Obama is proposing a 13 percent cut in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) budget to $8.97 billion. The immediate conclusion they might have drawn is that this move is tantamount to an open invitation for the industrial sector to resume its rape and pillage of our natural ecosystems.

However, I encourage folks not to take this move out of context. In particular, note that the announcement was essentially a compromise against a proposal from House Republican lawmakers to cut EPA funding by almost three times that much, and to prevent the agency from regulating greenhouse gases. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Over the last 12 months or so, I’ve received a fairly steady ration of calls inquiring about some sort of engineering service.  Often, the request concerns help with the design of some terrific new product concept.  Sometimes, however, it’s just a verification of an idea that may be based on a set of drawings or calculations — or something even less developed; it may be a sketch on a cocktail napkin – or merely a notion floating around in someone’s head.  (more…)

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