Content produced by the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society
As a cost effective and appropriate technology for supplemental space heating in cold climates, solar air heat has an important role to play among the suite of solar heating technologies. Learn the fundamentals and best practices of designing, installing and maintaining solar air heating systems in residential, commercial and agricultural applications. Solar air heat is also a technology that is closely aligned with the goals of public low-income energy assistance and affordable housing progra...
The German economy is the largest in Europe and the fourth largest economy on the globe. The rest of the world is rightly interested in Germany's move toward renewable energy and away from coal, oil and nuclear power. Twenty percent of electricity in Germany now comes from renewable energy sources, compared to 4 percent two decades ago. German officials estimate that growth in renewable energy industries has created 350,000 jobs to date. www.mnrenewables.org
A couple of months ago the City of Edina became the first Minnesota city to authorize a Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program and Grandview Tire and Auto became the first PACE project. Even in this first step, a new solar array, some new jobs and a cleaner planet are evident. More contractor/owner arranged C&I PACE projects will follow and it is useful to consider this implementation process and the steps for the next phases of larger scale development. ...
Ellen Anderson currently serves on the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. She was appointed Commissioner and Chair by Governor Mark Dayton on March 28, 2011. She is a member of the National Association Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). Her term expires on January 2, 2017.
In addition to a presentation of the past year's MRES activities, we'll be electing new board members, with three seats up for grabs. Learn more about the candidates here. Only MRES members will be allowed to vote. www.mnrenewables.org
This presentation will cover the latest in developments in solar thermal concentrators. As well as a brief discussion on the history of this technology and how new developments have brought about a huge leap forward in output and efficiencies of solar thermal equipment now on the market. www.mnrenewables.org
Installations of solar power are growing exponentially and prices are falling dramatically. John Farrell, Director of the Energy Self-Reliant States and Communities program at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance will explain how this international dynamic means the advent of local power from sunshine and local power over our electricity future, even in Minnesota. Clean, local energy can provide a substantial portion of our electricity needs and even more to our local economies. www.mnrenewab...
The presentation will be cover the 1.5 MWh solar to battery project at SolarTAC, the Solar Rewards program, Xcel’s energy supply mix, and some future developments for integrating renewable energy with electric vehicle charging and discharging. For more information visit www.mnrenewables.org
The City of Minneapolis has a goal of installing one megawatt (1 MW) of renewable energy by 2014. Prior to 2010, only 10 kW had been installed. In 2010 and 2011, the City will have installed another 790 kW. Brian will review these projects and future plans in his talk. www.mnrenewables.org
Anne Hunt, Environmental Policy Director with Mayor Chris Coleman's office, and Nina Axelson, District Energy St. Paul, will share with the MRES members some of the exciting solar projects in Saint Paul. Anne Hunt will discuss the Central Corridor Solar projects funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the MN Department of Commerce. Nina Axelson will talk about District Energy's successful new 1 Megawatt Solar District Thermal project funded by DOE's Solar Market Transformation program....