The SolarBeam concentrator is a parabolic system that tracks the sun and creates solar hot water. 1 SolarBeam can create 34,144 BTU’s or 10kW per hour of solar hot water. In most applications, 1 SolarBeam will replace 15-20 flat panels which makes it highly cost effective. Please contact SolarTron Energy Systems to learn how to become a distributor of the SolarBeam Concentrator
MINNESOTA
A policy for encouraging the use of solar energy to produce solar hot water for heating buildings was approved by the House Energy Finance and Policy Division.
HF1078, sponsored by Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Mpls), would require the commerce commissioner and Pollution Control Agency to make recommendations to achieve solar and thermal energy goals, in order to meet the federal requirement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent before the year 2025. Passage of the bill would help reduce energy dependence on coal and expand the number of green jobs in Minnesota, said Thissen.
About one-third of the energy consumed in Minnesota is thermal, said Anders Rydaker, president of District Energy in St. Paul. “To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and set goals for reducing our carbon footprint, we should not ignore that third,” Rydaker said.
Minneapolis receives as much direct sunlight as Houston, Texas, and is therefore poised to produce more solar hot water and solar energy, if the appropriate incentives and policies are in place, said Rydaker, adding solar thermal energy is three times more efficient than solar-electric production.
HAWAII
Some major policy initiatives were signed into law in 2009, including a 40% Renewable Portfolio Standard required by 2030, and a 30% (4,300 GWh) Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard, also with the target date of 2030. In December 2009, HCEI published policy recommendations for the 2010 legislative session, developed by the initiative’s working groups in conjunction with the Department of Energy; the report is available on the HCEI website. The comprehensive analysis of the cost and energy impacts of these policy recommendations was released in April 2010. Under HCEI, the U.S. Department of Energy commissioned step by step permitting guidebooks to lay out federal, state, and county requirements for bioenergy, solar, marine, wind, waste to energy, hydroelectric, and geothermal projects.
Another resource is the Hawaii Legislature Website, which contains up-to-date hearing and bill information during legislative session. The Hawaii State Policy Website has additional information and reports. The HCEI partnership also helped lay the groundwork for an Energy Agreement signed by the State of Hawaii, the HECO companies (Hawaiian Electric Company, Maui Electric Company, and Hawaii Electric and Light Company), and the Division of Consumer Advocacy signaling a new path forward in October 2008.
INDIANA
The IST grant program will provide cost share grants to Indiana’s public, non-profit, and business sectors for the purchase and installation of solar water heating systems . Solar energy systems make use of non-fossil fuel resources to produce clean, home-grown thermal energy for heating water. In a time of rising energy costs and increased energy supply volatility, it is vital to our economic future to diversify the portfolio of resources we use to produce energy. The purpose of this grant program is to increase awareness and utilization of solar thermal energy resources as well as to create vocational opportunities for Hoosiers interested in renewable energy. Three facilities, two apartment complexes and one food co-op are taking part in the IST program. Program data will be used to gather additional information on the economic viability of solar thermal energy in Indiana.
UTAH
In general, credits are available for eligible systems placed in service on or before December 31, 2016:
Solar. The credit is equal to 30% of expenditures, with no maximum credit. Eligible solar energy property includes equipment that uses solar energy to generate electricity, to heat or cool (or provide hot water for use in) a structure, or to provide solar process heat. Hybrid solar lighting systems, which use solar energy to illuminate the inside of a structure using fiber-optic distributed sunlight, are eligible. Passive solar systems and solar pool-heating systems are not eligible.
MINNESOTA
A policy for encouraging the use of solar energy to produce solar hot water for heating buildings was approved by the House Energy Finance and Policy Division.
HF1078, sponsored by Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Mpls), would require the commerce commissioner and Pollution Control Agency to make recommendations to achieve solar and thermal energy goals, in order to meet the federal requirement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent before the year 2025. Passage of the bill would help reduce energy dependence on coal and expand the number of green jobs in Minnesota, said Thissen.
About one-third of the energy consumed in Minnesota is thermal, said Anders Rydaker, president of District Energy in St. Paul. “To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and set goals for reducing our carbon footprint, we should not ignore that third,” Rydaker said.
Minneapolis receives as much direct sunlight as Houston, Texas, and is therefore poised to produce more solar hot water and solar energy, if the appropriate incentives and policies are in place, said Rydaker, adding solar thermal energy is three times more efficient than solar-electric production.
HAWAII
Some major policy initiatives were signed into law in 2009, including a 40% Renewable Portfolio Standard required by 2030, and a 30% (4,300 GWh) Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard, also with the target date of 2030. In December 2009, HCEI published policy recommendations for the 2010 legislative session, developed by the initiative’s working groups in conjunction with the Department of Energy; the report is available on the HCEI website. The comprehensive analysis of the cost and energy impacts of these policy recommendations was released in April 2010. Under HCEI, the U.S. Department of Energy commissioned step by step permitting guidebooks to lay out federal, state, and county requirements for bioenergy, solar, marine, wind, waste to energy, hydroelectric, and geothermal projects.
Another resource is the Hawaii Legislature Website, which contains up-to-date hearing and bill information during legislative session. The Hawaii State Policy Website has additional information and reports. The HCEI partnership also helped lay the groundwork for an Energy Agreement signed by the State of Hawaii, the HECO companies (Hawaiian Electric Company, Maui Electric Company, and Hawaii Electric and Light Company), and the Division of Consumer Advocacy signaling a new path forward in October 2008.
INDIANA
The IST grant program will provide cost share grants to Indiana’s public, non-profit, and business sectors for the purchase and installation of solar water heating systems . Solar energy systems make use of non-fossil fuel resources to produce clean, home-grown thermal energy for heating water. In a time of rising energy costs and increased energy supply volatility, it is vital to our economic future to diversify the portfolio of resources we use to produce energy. The purpose of this grant program is to increase awareness and utilization of solar thermal energy resources as well as to create vocational opportunities for Hoosiers interested in renewable energy. Three facilities, two apartment complexes and one food co-op are taking part in the IST program. Program data will be used to gather additional information on the economic viability of solar thermal energy in Indiana.
UTAH
In general, credits are available for eligible systems placed in service on or before December 31, 2016:
Solar. The credit is equal to 30% of expenditures, with no maximum credit. Eligible solar energy property includes equipment that uses solar energy to generate electricity, to heat or cool (or provide hot water for use in) a structure, or to provide solar process heat. Hybrid solar lighting systems, which use solar energy to illuminate the inside of a structure using fiber-optic distributed sunlight, are eligible. Passive solar systems and solar pool-heating systems are not eligible.
