Tag: solar thermal

Origins of A Tsunami Called Natural Gas
Economy, Energy, Environment & Climate Change

Origins of A Tsunami Called Natural Gas


Before the natural gas tsunami came ashore of the U.S. energy sector in 2014/2015, it was little more than a rogue wave at sea.  This is a story of its impacts on one energy technology while it was still barely discernible from the surrounding waves in which it lurked as it gained momentum and mass.

In 2008 through 2010 I worked with a small diversified “solar” company in Colorado as a Project Manager – “Jack of All Trades.” At the time, we focused on distributed solar thermal at the municipal and residential scales, while engineering a more versatile racking system than that on the market out of Europe.

We were using ingenuity as well as trial an error to combat limitations imposed by “one size fits all” applications, where the reality was, there were Continue reading “Origins of A Tsunami Called Natural Gas”

Energy, Environment & Climate Change

Ending Energy Ignorance – Part III


Shortlink – http://wp.me/pfF9G-9M

Now that we are here, what do we know?

“Solar”, regardless the generally considered meaning of it, as PV, also includes Wind, Ocean Currents, Hydroelectric and Solar Thermal, to name the primary forms we can harness to supply our needs.

Solar Thermal also has two distinct forms; one for the heating of water for residential and commercial needs, relatively common throughout much of the world and an idea that died during the 80s here in the U.S.; and another, super heating a fluid medium to spin a turbine producing electricity, the giant often circular plants full of mirrors and a central tower, made notable in Spain, Australia & the Mojave Desert of California.

Continue reading “Ending Energy Ignorance – Part III”