Understanding Standards, Guideline and Codes Impacting Solar Power Equipment Industry

Experts from TÜV Rheinland cover the basics for solar equipment and component manufacturers who must comply with the regulations. Experts from TÜV Rheinland, which certifies many of the processes used to build and install electronic equipment, discussed segments of this vast regulatory environment in a Webinar entitled “Solar Energy Technologies: Insights to Regulatory Requirements.” They opened by explaining why the many rules and regulations were written. One is that solar... Read More

Turning Water into Oil

HydroWatch system monitors water used in oil shale drilling America’s need for energy continues to cause concerns for politicians and consumers as well as those who pull oil and gas from the earth. Demand for these natural resources continues to rise while prices fluctuate wildly and the uninterrupted availability of foreign oil remains uncertain. Fluctuations in supply and rising prices have driven oil and gas suppliers in the U.S. to focus more on domestic supplies. That’s... Read More

‘Floating’ Solar Tracker Technology Boosts Efficiency and Profit for Solar Farms

Trabant Solar’s innovative floating tracker increases profits for solar farms by more than 20% and efficiency by up to 42% over fixed-position systems. Pre-programmed controller, which scales up to 25 trackers, relies on easy-to-use function blocks from a special Siemens solar library.  Solar energy is becoming more viable as the green movement grows and pricing gets closer to matching existing utility rates. Infrastructure improvements such as the trackers that help position... Read More

Case study: Advanced Process Control Enables New Technique for Manufacturing Photovoltaic Cells

Manufacturer innovates with new manufacturing method that slashes production costs in half while increasing product quality. An advanced, open-architecture control system that handled both process and discrete control was a key requirement. Having a commercially-viable innovation is only the first step in the birth of a new company. The idea leads to proof of concept and then – all things being positive – you have to ramp to full production and that means making the right... Read More

Fitting Energy Management Strategies into Sustainable Practices

How to monitor and analyze energy costs in an industrial automation application. Includes strategies for uncovering and avoiding costly spikes that exceed utilities’ maximum allowable demand. According to Nobel-winning writer (and co-founder of the London School of Economics) George Bernard Shaw, the only man he knew who behaved sensibly was his tailor. “He takes my measurements each time he sees me,” he said. “The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to... Read More

Reducing Energy Consumption Offers Huge Potential Savings

Equipment makers help in the drive to cut energy usage. A number of factors are pressuring companies into going green and conserving energy. Uncertainty about spiking prices and an increasingly stringent regulatory environment, not to mention changing public perception, are all driving companies to curtail energy consumption and reduce emissions. Plant and machine operators need to make significant reductions in the amount of energy they use. The list of areas being targeted includes... Read More

Orange County Choppers’ First Electric Bike

Siemens and Orange County Choppers teamed up to build the first custom electric motorcycle. The “Siemens Smart Chopper” features recycled materials, LED lighting, battery-powered motor, 100 MPH maximum speed, 60-mile range, and on-board charger that can be plugged into any 110-volt outlet. The bike will be featured on TLC’s American Chopper television show on November 5, 2009.Have an Inquiry for Siemens about this article? Click Here >>    Read More →

Hanover Fair Showcases “Energy Mix of the Future”

The world’s largest industrial technology show, held annually in Hannover, Germany, highlights thirteen flagship fairs, including the debut of the “Wind” fair.  Energy efficiency, renewables and cost efficiency are recurrent themes throughout. Hannover Messe 2009 (or Hanover Fair, as it’s commonly referred to in the U.S.) was held April 20-24 in Hannover, Germany, serving as the world’s largest gathering of industry professionals, exhibitors, industry organizations... Read More

Solar Panel Assembly Made Easy

Precision manufacturing is key to producing weather-resistant solar panels. Integrated motion and control systems from Siemens provide the needed accuracy and performance. A market growing at 45 percent per year looks like a good bet to get into. According to Mike Taylor, director of research and education, Solar Electric Power Association, the solar photovoltaic for electric generation market has been on that slope for the past three years. No wonder automation companies are... Read More