The Los Angeles Trade-Technical College has a range of green-related courses and programs that range from alternative fuels and emissions reduction in the Diesel Technology Program to a Supply Water Technology AS degree with an emphasis in water purification.  Currently the college has 52 green-integrated courses and four green-related degree and certificate programs in career-technical, science, health, and liberal arts programs.

In the summer of 2007, the college launched several green-related workforce development initiatives through its Regional Economic Development Institute (REDI). To date as a result of these initiatives, the college has: convened a two-day Sustainability Industry and Educators Forum to define green industry sector trends and needs including career and academic pathways, occupations, and skills/competencies; completed research on the demand/supply side of green construction, transportation and energy sectors in the Los Angeles Region; identified and prioritized industry sectors and occupations for developing green workforce training programs; is currently developing curriculum for Alternative Fuels and Solar Technician program(s); is currently in research and development phase for developing a fuel cell technician program; and is planning for the implementation of a Green Business Certification Program.

Included in the College’s green Associates degrees are two which focus on Water Technology: 

For more information on the College and its programs, please visit http://www.lattc.edu/dept/lattc/WED/GCIPrograms.html

NASHUA, N.H., — The conference program for the Photovoltaics World Conference & Expo, to be held February 23-25, 2010 in Austin, Texas, has been finalized. Recent advances in photovoltaics technology and manufacturing processes will be addressed, as well as emerging applications for photovoltaic-based solar power generation systems. Information will be presented in two different tracks and seven sessions over a three-day program. The conference will be held in conjunction with PennWell’s Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America, which covers all forms of renewable energy, including the wind, solar, biomass, hydro, geothermal, ocean/tidal/wave, bio-power, bio-fuels hydrogen and energy sectors. Nearly 4,000 renewable energy power professionals attended the 2009 conference, and strong growth in 2010 is expected.

 ”I’m delighted that we are able to present such a strong conference program on photovoltaics that covers not only new manufacturing technologies, but strategic market and policy concerns,” said Pete Singer, Editor-in-Chief of Photovoltaics World and program committee chair. Photovoltaics World, launched in 2009, is the newest member of PennWell’s Electronics Media Group and the Renewable Energy World Network. Through its magazine, website and e-newsletters, Photovoltaics World covers photovoltaics manufacturing and solar power generation.

 Opportunities in the photovoltaics (PV) market in 2010 remain strong according to analysts. “Utilities and home-owners are increasingly interested in PV systems and large utility ecosystem partners, such as construction and merchant power generation firms, are looking into photovoltaics,” said Alfonso Velosa, Research Director, Semiconductors, Gartner, Tucson, AZ. Dave Cavanaugh, Senior Analyst, Pike Research, Boulder, CO, is also positive: “Led by a strong recovery of demand in Germany and burgeoning growth in Italy, Japan and the United States, we are forecasting that demand for solar modules in 2010 will grow by 43% to reach almost 6.8GW. This offers great news to a solar industry whose market demand as little as two quarters ago was looking dismal.”

 Still, there is some degree of uncertainty about how the PV market will be impacted by the stability of the global economy, the fate of government incentives, feed-in-tariff (FIT) restructuring, and overall sliding module prices. Another uncertainty is which of the many different types of competing photovoltaic technologies will emerge as the winner. Conventional crystalline silicon PV technology remains the market leader, but thin-film technologies are rapidly improving and are poised to gain in market share, particularly in the U.S. Organic photovoltaics (PV on plastic substrates) have also shown dramatic improvements of late, and are an ideal choice for some applications.

More details on the conference, including speakers, registration information, keynote talks, technical tours, networking breakfasts, and conference hours, can be found at http://www.pvworldevent.com.

A new report suggests that tackling climate change will be a major net job creator for the U.S. economy. According to the report, aggressive deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency can net up to 4.5 million new U.S. jobs by 2030 and provide the greenhouse gas emission reductions necessary to tackle climate change.
The report entitled, Estimating the Jobs Impact of Tackling Climate Change, was released today during a news conference in Washington, D.C. The study was released by the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) based in Boulder and Management Information Services, Inc. (MISI) based in Washington, D.C.

According to the analysis, renewable energy and energy efficiency deployment costs would be revenue neutral (or better), as costs to implement the technologies are offset by savings from lower energy bills, making total net costs near zero.

“The twin challenges of climate change and economic stagnation can be solved by the same action—broad, aggressive, sustained deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency,” said Brad Collins, ASES’ Executive Director, “the solution for one is the solution for the other.”

This jobs report offers the most detailed analysis yet on the potential role of the new energy economy in tackling climate change.

This new report builds on the findings of ASES’ groundbreaking report Tackling Climate Change in the U.S.: Potential Carbon Emissions Reductions From Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by 2030 edited by Chuck Kutscher.
Tackling Climate Change: Jobs Report Summary

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT:

Press Release – LATHAM, NY – October 8, 2009 – 3M (NYSE:3M)and Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG), a leader in providing clean, reliable energy solutions, today announced that they have entered into an exclusive commercial supply agreement for 3M  membrane electrode assemblies (MEA), to be used as a critical component in Plug Power’s GenSys proprietary proton exchange membrane (PEM) reformate stacks. The continuous run GenSys^® prime power fuel cell systems are being deployed into rural India and will replace diesel generators at remote telecommunication sites.

The design of the reformate stack allows customers to realize the economic and environmental benefits of fuel cells, while avoiding the logistics involved in transporting pure hydrogen to their remote cell sites. GenSys reforms Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) into a hydrogen-rich reformate that is converted into electricity in the fuel cell stack. The GenSys reformer design is also proprietary to Plug Power. With minor adjustments, Plug Power’s system can process a variety of hydrocarbon based fuel stocks such as natural gas.

 In May 2009, WTTIL, the cell tower arm of Tata Teleservices Limited, placed an order for 200 units to provide power at cell towers with no or extremely unreliable electric grid service. The initial 200 GenSys systems will be installed by the end of March, 2010 and the Company expects to install approximately 1,000 systems by the end of the same year. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) will provide LPG fuel for the initial 200 installations. Plug Power and HPCL entered into a five-year fuel supply agreement in September of 2009.

 Through several years of collaboration between 3M and Plug Power, and research and development support from the United States Department of Energy, Plug Power has successfully developed a robust stack designed to meet and exceed customer requirements. To date, Plug Power’s reformate stack designs have accumulated more than 200,000 in-application operating hours in hundreds of units at customer sites. As a result of this extensive in-application testing, the Company has extended the stack life by 70 percent.

 Plug Power’s reformate stack improves upon similar commercially available fuel cell stacks with a five percent increase in system efficiency. 3M and Plug Power will use the data and learning from field deployments to drive further improvements in MEA, fuel cell stack and system lifetime. In just five years, Plug Power has reduced the cost of its reformate fuel cell by approximately 70 percent, while increasing the power output by 20 percent. Plug Power has also streamlined its design and manufacturing processes, reducing assembly and test time by 60 percent.

Greater stack reliability results in minimized service costs and a faster customer payback. “Plug Power understands the importance of meeting our customers’ needs,” said Mark Sperry, General Manager of Plug Power’s Continuous Power Division. “And, the best way to do that is to provide them with the most reliable and lowest-cost alternative energy solution in the market. 3M is a key partner in achieving this goal, as we are able to leverage its industry leading membrane technology. Through this strong collaborative effort, Plug Power is able to continuously grow its business and increase fuel cell product placement into the market.”

An established industry leader in the manufacture of reformate fuel cell stacks, Plug Power has been designing PEM fuel cell stacks since 1997 and has implemented its technology into several of its previous product offerings.

“3M is delighted to be the MEA supplier for this exciting opportunity,” said Dr. Eric Funkenbusch, program director of 3M’s Fuel Cell Components Program. “Plug Power and 3M have collaborated closely for many years, and 3M has supplied MEAs for many of the Plug Power systems in field deployment.” He continued, “Given the interrelated nature of the MEA, fuel cell stack and system, close cooperation, openness, and trust are critical to success. We feel very fortunate to have this type of relationship with Plug Power.”

3M is a leading developer and manufacturer of membrane electrode assemblies for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. 3M MEAs are based on a number of core 3M technology platforms, including fluoropolymers, nanotechnology and precision processing. The company’s dedicated fuel cell team is focused on addressing MEA related barriers to wide spread fuel cell commercialization including cost, durability and consistency. The MEAs developed for the GenSys stack incorporate a number of significant improvements over the previous generation of 3M MEAs. The U.S. Department of Energy has strongly supported 3M in its development efforts through a number of cost sharing projects and by providing common direction and targets to fuel cell component and system developers.

About 3M
A recognized leader in research and development, 3M produces thousands of innovative products for dozens of diverse markets. 3M’s core strength is applying its more than 40 distinct technology platforms – often in combination – to a wide array of customer needs. With $25 billion in sales, 3M employs 75,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 60 countries.

About Plug Power Inc.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG), an established leader in the development and deployment of clean, reliable energy solutions, integrates fuel cell technology into motive and continuous power products. The Company is actively engaged with private and public customers in targeted markets throughout the world. For more information about how to join Plug Power’s energy revolution as an investor, customer, supplier or strategic partner, please visit www.plugpower.com.

UC San Diego

The California Center for Sustainable Energy in San Diego announced today that the University of California, San Diego will receive $11 million in incentives from California’s Self-Generation Incentive Program for the installation of an innovative fuel cell energy generation and storage system.

This is the largest amount ever awarded by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for a renewable energy project and is the nation’s first advanced energy storage project to receive state incentive funds.

Marye Anne Fox, chancellor of UC San Diego had this to say;

This $11 million incentive is key to the work UC San Diego is doing on campus and in the community in developing and using technology that will help reduce our carbon footprint. Funding these efforts will stimulate worldwide impact through the demonstration, usage, and implementation of cutting-edge sustainable technology by UC San Diego.

The planned 2.8-megawatt fuel cell at UC San Diego, funded at $7.65 million, will be paired with an additional 2.8-megawatt advanced energy-storage system, funded at $3.4 million, which will allow the university to store off-peak power and discharge the energy during peak-demand hours. It is the largest project of its kind in the world. Integrating clean, renewable generation with advanced energy storage is an important strategy for transforming California’s electricity system into a sustainable “smart grid,” according to the CPUC.

 Danbury, Conn-based FuelCell Energy, Inc., will deliver a 2.8-megawatt fuel cell to UC San Diego. The fuel cell utilizes a well-established electrochemical process to convert purified methane gas directly into electricity without combustion.“Increasingly the state will be relying on renewable resources, like wind, fuel cells and other technologies that do not necessarily produce energy when it is most valuable,” said CPUC President Michael R. Peevey.

Storage solves that problem, transforming what would otherwise be low-value energy into high-value energy that can be used on-site to reduce peak energy demand. UCSD should be commended for taking this important step.

The $11 million award for the UC San Diego project comes from the CPUC’s Self-Generation Incentive Program that provides rebates for fuel cell and wind generating systems from 30 kilowatts to 3 megawatts in size. The California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) administers the program within the San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) service territory. CCSE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering public policy and programs that promote clean and efficient energy technologies and practices.

Andrew McAllister, CCSE director of programs said;

Advanced energy storage lets us take the best advantage of renewable generation resources, and at the same time, it can improve the reliability of the electric system and ensure the level of power quality that a modern society requires. CCSE and UCSD have been advocates for inclusion of advanced energy storage in incentive programs as an important way to develop this new marketplace. CCSE is pleased to partner with UCSD on this and many other projects.

The integration of this continuously available renewable resource with energy storage will demonstrate for the first time the ability to optimally meet the daily peaks and valleys of customers’ electricity demand loads, according to Byron Washom, UC San Diego’s director of strategic energy initiatives.

Washom added;

The fuel cell integrated with energy storage is the centerpiece project for UC San Diego providing global leadership in smart grid initiatives. It is the world’s largest commercially available system and the first such unit of this size to utilize renewable methane gas as fuel.

UC San Diego’s fuel cell and storage system is being deployed by BioFuels Energy, LLC of Encinitas, Calif., and is scheduled to be completed in 2010. FuelCell Energy, Inc. of Danbury, Conn., the world’s largest supplier of fuel cells, will provide the system, which utilizes a well-established electrochemical process to convert the purified methane gas directly into electricity without combustion. The renewable methane will be collected at the City of San Diego’s Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, purified and compressed on-site and delivered to the UC San Diego campus by BioFuels Energy. The wastewater treatment plant’s methane is currently flared into the atmosphere as waste gas.

Once in operation, the electrical output of the fuel cell will be used to help power UC San Diego’s microgrid and also be stored for discharge during periods of highest electricity demand. The entire fuel cell and storage project is expected to cost as much as $16 million. In addition, the university will capture the waste heat generated by the fuel cell as a continuous power source for 320 tons of chilling capacity to cool campus buildings.

UC San Diego is committed to reducing its carbon footprint through energy-efficient operations and developing renewable-energy sources that can serve as a basis for other projects. The campus has one of the country’s most sophisticated microgrid energy systems that generates 80 percent of the university’s electricity needs with a 30-megawatt gas turbine plant and 1 megawatt of solar photovoltaic arrays. The campus’s microgrid energy system maximizes the efficient use of power while supplying a community of 54,000 students, faculty and staff.

The UC San Diego fuel cell and storage system will reduce carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 8,200 tons per year. The California Air Resources Board has certified the local pollution emissions of the planned fuel cell system as an “ultra clean” electrical generation technology that is exempt from the permit requirements of air pollution control or air quality management districts.

Fuel cells produce electricity by separating the component electrons and protons of a fuel, which will be methane gas at UC San Diego, and forcing the electrons to travel through a circuit that converts them to electrical power. Methane-powered fuel cells are in operation at landfills and waste water treatment plants across the country, as well as at several breweries. Fuel cells will operate virtually continuously as long as the reactant fuel is replenished.

The California Center for Sustainable Energy is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to fostering public policy and programs to facilitate the adoption of clean, reliable, sustainable and efficient energy technologies and practices. For more information on CCSE programs, rebates and services, please visit www.energycenter.org or call 1-866-SDENERGY.