The Flying Microgrid: Solar Impulse Completes Fuel-free Around-the-world Solar Flight
Solar Impulse 2 landed its final leg this week, a 100% solar flight from Cairo to Abu Dhabi that completed a one-year journey around the world. With this landing, Solar Impulse became the first airplane to circle the globe using only solar power–and no fuel whatsoever. The aircraft first took off from Abu Dhabi last March and after 17 legs, landed back in the UAE city July 25.
“ The solar airplane has now successfully made it full circle around the world,” says Solar Impulse in its blog, “proving that clean technologies can really achieve the impossible.”
Cooper Pedy, Australia, Microgrid Project Gains Ground with New Wind Turbines
Queensland-based Energy Developments (EDL), with help from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), is developing a hybrid wind, solar, and storage microgrid to power the remote South Australian mining town of Coober Pedy. The project began in 2014 and this past week has brought on wind turbine maker, Senvion, to take on its first microgrid project supplying turbines for the project. The project’s goal is to take this remote town of 3,500 to 70% renewables.
“Wind energy can play a very important role in helping remote communities and industries reduce their reliance on expensive fuels,” says Senvion Australia managing director Chris Judd. Senvion’s contribution to the project joins an array of solar and battery storage that will replace the town’s diesel generator.
Wind Turbine at sunset
Getting Off the Grid in Hawaii
For Holu Energy, a tenant in Real Office Centers’ Honolulu, Hawaii office, getting off the main grid isn’t about retreating from society — it’s about helping society be more energy-efficient and connected. Holu Energy is a micro-grid developer working in Hawaii and the Pacific region. The company is currently working to spread awareness of microgrids and to make them a leading source of energy for Hawaiians, according to a news release.
Employee-owned Design Firm to Lead Groundbreaking Green Omni Terminal Project at Port of Los Angeles
Burns & McDonnell is providing design-build engineering and overall project management services for the Green Omni Terminal Demonstration Project, a showcase of how sustainable, clean energy solutions can revolutionize marine terminal operations. Pasha Stevedoring & Terminals LP and the Port of Los Angeles are launching the project as a proving ground for how zero and near-zero emissions technologies can dramatically reduce pollutants and improve energy resiliency at marine terminals and industrial facilities around the world. The project is scalable for future implementation in all terminals. Engineering is set to begin this month, with construction beginning in October and complete by mid-2017.