Monday, June 7, 2010

San Diego seeks to be leader in solar energy


Research at University of California, San Diego, could help result in the next generation of solar technology.

The university and Sanyo North America Corp. are joining forces in a $3 million, three-year partnership that a Sanyo official told the San Diego Union Tribune could help make the Southern California community "the most advanced green city in the world."

In a related matter, Kyocera has started making solar modules in San Diego. The manufacturing line supports a business goal of making 1,000 megawatts worth of solar cells annually by March 2013.

The alliance between UC San Diego and Sanyo will focus on finding reliable power production when the sun isn't shining. This is what the newspaper's Mike Lee reported:

"By early next year, Sanyo plans to place about 20 of its new-era batteries on campus for faculty and students to study. The devices — about the size of a typical DVD player — are part of what Sanyo calls its 'smart energy system.' It is designed to produce green power, store it and use it efficiently to reduce carbon emissions. "

Increasingly, colleges are getting into the solar research business in a big way. UC Merced, in our very own San Joaquin Valley, is a leader in the research as well. Check out what Professor David Kelley is doing.

The San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization is a nonprofit dedicated to improving our region's quality of life by increasing its production and use of clean energy. The SJVCEO works with cities and counties and public and private organizations to demonstrate the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy throughout the eight-county region of the San Joaquin Valley.

No comments: