Bert Neijmeijer’s Amazing Solar Story

By Manfred Wissemann Jim Henshaw and I set out to investigate a very large residential solar system installation near our Victoria airport. Bert Neijmeijer, a VEVC member, gave us a warm welcome and proceeded in covering every detail of his solar system. Below is his report and it was just wonderful to experience his enthusiasm for sustainable energy. His knowledge and detail may…

New map shows the solar potential of Calgary roofs

Calgarycitynews.com, Nov 2, 2016 Wondering about the potential amount of sunshine on your home’s roof and how it compares to other homes? Check out the Solar Potential Map to find out! In today’s world, data is power and in the case of the new Solar Potential Map released on The City’s Map Gallery, solar data can help Calgarians make some…

Tesla unveils integrated ‘solar roof and Powerwall 2’

Fred Lambert, Electrek.co, Oct 28, 2016 We were live at Universal Studios in Los Angeles today for Tesla’s unveiling of its new integrated energy solution with ‘solar roof and Powerwall’. For the event, Tesla and SolarCity retrofitted with the new solar roof solutions a bunch of houses used for film and tv sets by Universal Studios. The company surprised everyone…

Everything you want to know about solar energy

Solar Basics by the US Energy Information Administration Energy from the sun The sun has produced energy for billions of years. The energy in the sun’s rays that reaches the earth (solar radiation) can be converted into heat and electricity. Radiant energy from the sun has powered life on earth for many millions of years. Source: NASA In the 1830s,…

Tesla to create another Gigafactory-type deal with Panasonic through SolarCity Buffalo plant, Silevo is still in play

Fred Lambert, Electrek.co, October 17, 2016   We were quite surprised when Tesla and Panasonic announced a new deal to collaborate on the manufacturing of solar cells and modules at the SolarCity Buffalo factory. And that’s not only because it was announced at 11pm on a Sunday night, but because of the implications it has on the solar cells and…

Introducing Do-It Yourself Solar

Introducing Do-it Yourself Solar Manfred Wissemann, Solar System Installation Services I have created this service to provide an affordable solar electric installation alternative for our Victoria Electric Vehicle Club (VEVC) members to help install solar electric systems in your homes and businesses. This involves purchasing equipment from a local solar electric supplier and assisting with do-it yourself installation plans, or…

Solar power cost down 25% in five months

  John Fitzgerald Weaver, Electrek.co, September 26, 2016 “There’s no reason why the cost of solar will ever increase again” On August 11 a bid of US$0.46/W was put forward to build 500MW of solar power in China (a roughly calculated levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) at $0.019/kWh). This past week we saw a bid of $0.023/kWh to build 1.2GW of…

7 things that beer can teach us about the future of electricity

Will Van Eaton, Solar City Blog, July 2016   The electric grid is changing faster than ever. With the rise of renewables and other technologies, energy is getting cleaner, more affordable, and more reliable. That said, understanding the inner workings of the power grid – voltage, distribution networks, substations, inverters, you name it – can get pretty complicated, pretty fast….

Lower Nicola Indian Band installs largest community-owned solar panel system in B.C.

Lower Nicola Indian Band installs largest community-owned solar panel system in B.C. Nick Eagland, September 7, 2016, Vancouver Sun   A First Nation in the Nicola Valley has installed B.C.’s largest community-owned solar panel system. The Lower Nicola Indian Band near Merritt, home to 1,200 members of the Nlaka’pamux Nation, last month installed 330 panels of photovoltaic solar panels to generate up to 85.8…