Rooftop Solar Panels Are Great for the Planet—But Terrible for Firefighters

WHEN FIRST RESPONDERS arrived to the burning home on Eugene Street in Manchester, New Hampshire just after 2 am on January 27, half the home was already up in flames. It was a big fire, but relatively routine: Working in the dark, the firefighters made sure the two residents got out unharmed, and got to work.

Once they reached the roof, though, they ran into trouble. This home was covered in rigid, electrified solar panels—making it difficult for the firefighters to cut holes in the roof to let smoke and heat escape. Finally, they found enough open space around the panels to jockey an adequate hole. “Our guys had to do what they had to do,” says Paul King, Manchester’s deputy fire marshal. The cat inside didn’t make it.

In the last two decades, solar power has exploded. In 2009, only 30,000 American homes had solar panels; by 2013, that number had jumped to 400,000. With that growth, firefighters have had to contend with new threats to their safety—and that of the buildings and people they’re charged with protecting.

Firefighters rarely turn the planning part of their brains off, says Peter Lynch, chief of training at the Vermont Fire Academy. “If you’re driving down the road with a firefighter, more than likely, they’re looking at the next building saying, ‘If we needed to save this building, how would we do it?'” he says. But it’s hard to evaluate a solar-paneled house from the ground. Panels can get in the way of cutting ventilation holes, like they did on Eugene Street. First responders also rely on the ability to turn off the electricity pulsing through a structure—but photovoltaic panels can make their own power. Electrified panels can cause burns, or even blow responders off a roof.

The panels in Manchester were modern models, and had a shut off switch that allowed the firefighters to de-electrify panels. But they got lucky. While the firefighting community has started to recognize and plan for the risks of electrified roofs, they still don’t have all the necessary rules and tools to work around them.

Do tree plantations support forest conservation?

• Tree plantations potentially support natural forest conservation. The main hypothesis for this effect is that tree plantations substitute natural forests for production, especially when plantations achieve high productivity.
• An exhaustive review of the published literature shows a diversity of analytical approaches with theoretical modeling, econometrics or descriptive statistics as main categories.
• This diversity reflects the complexity of translating a simple assumption into models because of the many factors at play. The analysis is all the more necessary as the positive substitution effect is straightforward, but potential negative (as well as other positive) impacts resulting from feedback/indirect effects, e.g. displacement of deforestation or replication of successful policies elsewhere, require more sophisticated methods to be understood.
• There is a convergence of findings of reduced degradation of natural forests with the expansion of tree plantations, but also potential increased deforestation due to lower market value of natural forests in the absence of logging (or displacement effects).
• A main limitation of studies pointing to the risk of forest conversion resulting from plantation expansion is the lack of consideration of policies and regulations that could prevent such deforestation, e.g. protected areas established where risks are high.
• These results are likely to apply partially to the case of fuelwood collection by local people – with less degradation but no identified outcome in terms of deforestation – yet much depends on household characteristics and the respective locations of plantations and forests.
• The limited number of studies challenges any general recommendation, yet a promising way forward may be the promotion of highly productive plantations in strategic places where agricultural rents are low, while taking action at the demand level to avoid a rebound effect whenever the price elasticity of demand for wood products is high.
• Continued production in natural forests, in a sustainable manner, might also help prevent deforestation, with wood products sold on niche markets and at a higher price owing to premiums (e.g. certification).

CM RAWAT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO CONSERVE WATER

After launching  the save water, water conservation and recharge campaign at his camp office to mark the water conservation day on Thursday,  Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat stressed on the positive role of one and all in executing a Government-envisaged scheme. “No scheme, however sincerely launched by the Government, can  achieve its objective unless everyone contributes,” he said while exhorting people to save water by whatever means possible.  He further said that if  the Government can make  the people aware of how they are unknowingly wasting water the State might reach the  cherished goal of water conservation and water would be left  available for the upcoming generation.

On this occasion, a documentary, made to educate people about how to save water and how they can contribute in the save water campaign just by putting some simple efforts, was shown. Besides, two chariots, meant for Garhwal and Kumaon,  carrying video footages and brochures were flagged off. While inaugurating the campaign, CM  put a bottle filled with sand and water into a cistern, a simple technique he is seeking to popularize among the people to stop water being wasted while flushing out toilets.

 CM said that the campaign would continue till June 30 during  which  the people will be asked to contribute their mite in  saving water. “In Uttarakhand, there are around 20 lakh toilets for  a population of 1.10 crore. As per a rough estimate, each person uses toilet at least 5-6 times a day. By using this simple technique, one can save 5-6 litres of water per day and if so water to be saved across the state would reach up to 5.5 -6.6 crore litre per day. The people should be rest assured that putting mixture of sand and water into their cisterns would not choke their  functioning in the least,” CM Rawat said.

 “If we can save water by using this simple technique both in our residences and our offices it would send a positive message across the country, inspiring others to follow our lead. But we must achieve it first,” he said.

 Sounding worried over fast- depleting natural water resources, CM Rawat said, “ During the time Uttarakhand came up as a State, our water sources discharged  72 MLD water. But now it has dwindled to 40 MLD. True, the State’s population has increased five times since. We will have to make intensive efforts to recharge or rejuvenate our natural water sources. 

Otherwise, things would turn too grim to imagine in the coming years.  Water is now scarce during the  summer months. Accordingly,  the people have braced up to grapple with  water scarcity. But if this becomes a reality all round the year just imagine where the level of frustration would go. It is thus time  for the people to be   serious and contribute to the save water campaign,” CM said.

 He also said that huge construction works being made over the river belt, concrete sewer lines are being made. “Every inhabitant is now connected with sewer line. This means that water is not getting recharged. Thus, everyone’s participation is required. Besides, we have started sincere   efforts to revive Rispana and Bindal rivers,” he said, while appealing to the people to adopt water harvesting system while building their houses. He invoked Mahatma Gandhi, saying that he had espoused the cause of water conservation throughout his life. 

 On the occasion, Jal and Swachchhta Mission (water and sanitation mission) executive director Dr Raghav Langer made  a presentation about web portal containing information about how water resources are being mapped. 

 

Solar jobs growing 17 times faster than US economy

Solar employment expanded last year 17 times faster the total US economy, according to an International Renewable Energy Agency.

Overall, more than 260,000 people work in the solar industry, up by 24% from 2015.The solar business has benefited from the falling cost of solar energy and generous federal tax credits that make it more affordable for businesses and homeowners to install solar panels.

"It seems to be one of the few areas of high-paying, blue-collar jobs -- and you don't have to learn to code," said Bryan Birsic, CEO of Wunder Capital, a fintech

company that allows investors to help finance solar panel installations.

Awareness is also up as Americans concerned about climate change look for cleaner energy options. Elon Musk has helped add to the solar buzz. Musk's Tesla recently started taking orders for solar roofs that is made of shingles to ease concerns that solar panels are ugly.

Most solar workers are in the installation business, the IREA report showed. Other leading jobs include manufacturing, project development, sales and research-and-development.

Related: Elon Musk's plan to make every solar roof beautiful

Men have most of the jobs in solar, but that is starting to change, especially in the sales business. Women now hold 28% of solar jobs, up from 19% in 2013, IREA said. By comparison, women make up just under half of the US workforce.

Solar isn't the only hot part of the clean energy job market -- wind jobs grew by 28%. About one-quarter of the roughly 102,000 jobs in the wind business are in manufacturing.

Both solar and wind scored a big victory in December 2015 when Congress decided to extend renewable tax credits that were set to expire.

The coal mining industry is grappling with far tougher conditions right now. Almost half of US coal jobs have disappeared just since the end of 2011, according to a Columbia University study. Kentucky, a state that overwhelmingly voted for Trump, lost an incredible 64% of its coal jobs over that span.

Attempting to revive coal jobs, Trump has signed executive orders aimed at easing the regulatory burden on the industry. But Columbia's study warned that Trump's regulation-busting is unlikely to spark a revival because coal's main problem is the abundance of cheap natural gas, not regulation.

GST: Shadow over solar power

The new Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime is likely to disturb the dream run the solar power sector has been seeing recently.

Solar power generating systems fall in the 5 per cent category but the modules and other basic equipment are in 18 per cent bracket. Cables, transformers, etc — components for power supply — would fall under the 28 per cent slab. 

All these would be passed through to the consumer and would impact the low tariffs that developers have been offering till about last week.

The ministry of new and renewable energy had said the sector would be insulated from any increase in rates. Sector experts, however, see this as a significant disruption that could even lead to cancellation of some projects.

Most power project developers source generating units from engineering, construction and procurement (EPC) contractors who build the system by sourcing various equipment. 

All the cost is factored in the final bill. Even the imported components would come under the same tax regime from July 1, 2017.

“There are two major impacts of the new tax brackets. The power purchase agreements (PPAs), which are yet to be signed for upcoming projects, would witness tariff escalation. Projects that have already signed PPAs might see tariff resetting,” said an executive.The sector could also see some issue around debt financing, refinancing and financial closure due to changes in tax structure.

“We believe that this process will be complex and challenging,” said Bridge to India in its latest report. “First, there are multiple templates for power purchase agreements because of changes in law. Second, discoms will obviously resist any tariff increase, particularly when tariffs for new auctions are reaching all-time lows. Third, the entire process for tariff determination, ratification and documentation amendments would easily take up to 6 months or even more.” 

Many developers would be under pressure to complete projects on time and lenders unwilling to fund extra costs. “It wouldn’t be surprising if this process leads to cancellation of some projects altogether,” the report added.The industry is expecting the cost of solar power projects and tariffs to escalate. 

“It is better that the government clarify the duty structure for the sub-components of solar generating systems. The cost of component needs to be in alignment with the final product,” said Lalit Jain, chief commercial officer at Moser Baer Clean Energy Ltd. Amit Kumar, partner, PwC India, pointed out the GST regime for the solar sector overshadows the idea of promoting domestic manufacturing in solar. 

“The new tax brackets do not promote domestic solar manufacturing in any way. The last few bids had factored GST in their bids, but at the 5 per cent rate. Future bids could see some escalation because 18 per cent tax on equipment was not envisaged.” 

Ibiden's Floating Solar Mounting System Features High Stability

'Weight' of water around edges

When installing the floats, a few rows not mounted with solar panels are arranged along the edges. These floats are used as passages for walking during inspection and are also essential as measures for protection from strong winds.

The rows close to solar panels are reversed for installation. The reverse surface is lined with grooves to improve walking comfort.

The components in the outermost row are filled with water instead of resin foam and are tilted so that the edge remains in the water. One main unit is filled with about 80kg of water, which functions as a weight, so half of the unit remains under the water surface, preventing the components rising due to strong winds, according to the company.

The solar panels are installed at an angle of 10 degrees, and plates are laid out behind panels to adjust the installation angle and prevent strong winds blowing in from behind the panels.