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While regulating CO2 emissions occupies an ever increasing share of policymaker and environmentalist priorities, which translates into countless new businesses and technologies to address this new challenge, there are still all those other air pollution emissions that we used to worry about exclusively, and almost, but not quite eliminated.

While impressive results in air pollution have been logged ever since the introduction of the catalytic converter and unleaded gasoline, microscopic particulates are still not being captured by conventional systems. The problem with these microscopic particles is that even though they are invisible, they actually pose greater potential health threats because they are so small the lungs are not able to expel them. Finding a product that improves automotive fuel efficiency – which translates into lower CO2 emissions – but also helps eliminate whatever other emissions we haven’t yet tackled is a rare treat.

A new aftermarket tailpipe filter that works on virtually all automobiles is now available from Sabertec, a three year old company based in Austin, Texas. Called the “Blade,” this filter can eliminate another 70% of microscopic particulate emissions, greatly improving air quality. Because this filter also alters the volumetric efficiency of the engine and accelerates the speed at which the catalytic converter reaches its optimal operating temperature, engine efficiency is improved up to 12% or more.
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Sabertec claims that BLADE is the only automotive afterproduct that both reduces emissions and increases fuel efficiency. (Photo: Sabertec LLC)

These achievements are apparently well documented. After acquiring the Blade technology in 2005, Sabertec went to CARB in California to ask them who they would recommend to test the unit for emissions reduction. They were referred to ATDS in Ontario, California, where most all major automakers test their vehicles. The standard they wanted to measure the performance of their unit against was the EPA protocol 511 – a test created by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate aftermarket retrofit devices that claim to reduce automobile exhaust emissions and/or improve fuel economy.

The results were encouraging. The blade unit, which costs $200 and requires a new $20 filter about every 10,000 miles, improved fuel economy by 6% in a four cylinder Honda Civic, by 12% in a six cylinder Hyundai Sonata, and by 5% in an eight cylinder Ford E-250.

Sabertec began when their CEO, William O’Brien, learned of an inventor in Brazil who had been developing this unit since 2000. O’Brien acquired the technology and hired the scientists who were working on it – since 2005 they have been working for Sabertec. They began installing devices on a fleet of test cars in August 2007 and at that time they also began testing the device with ATDS. The results from ATDS were released in December, 2008, and since then these devices have been available at select retailers as well as on the internet. If you include the many fleets who have already purchasing these products – including early adopters – Sabertech has already equipped over a thousand vehicles.

Pamela Contag is a microbiologist who’s as comfortable in the lab as she is in the boardroom, dealing with the business of running a company. She has plenty of experience there, having helped found two startups: Cobalt Technologies and Xenogen. She also sits on the Department of Energy’s Biomass Advisory Board.

The biofuels life cycle – can biofuels eventually compete with petrochemicals, and if so, when? (Photo: U.S. Dept. of Energy)

Contag is an astute observer of the biofuels industry. With much of the discussion today focused on second-generation biofuels, she points out that it’s still critical for people not to mix up biofuel feedstocks with human foodstocks. That sure spelled a lot of trouble during the first-generation corn-ethanol buildout, which alarmed the public and still dampens enthusiasm for the biofuels market.

Contag says there’s a list of myths that need to be addressed in order to keep biofuels on track.

“I think the three biggest myths are, one, technology or feedstock will solve our problem. The second is that climate change, energy security and water security are not somehow related. And the third myth is that solar energy to electricity is going to solve all of our problems.”

As for feedstocks, she says,

“I don’t think we have the answer now. But I think we’ll have it in the next five years. What’s needed is for entrepreneurs and investors to look at smaller crops with a unified theme of being able to keep a lot of different seed crops. Think of crops as being renewable but also sustainable in terms of agricultural practices.”

Contag is putting her views to work in her latest startup, Cygnet Biofuels.

The company is approaching biofuels with three core fundamentals:

1. Low Energy
2. Low Water
3. Local Biomass

It wants to harvest local feedstocks and create fuels like biodiesel for communities, mirroring the early days of electrical utilities in the U.S. “Cygnet believes this isn’t an engineering project but an ecosystem project,” Contag says.

Part of Cygnet’s plan is to integrate a wide-variety of technologies into its power-generation plants, including solar, biodiesel, biobutanol, co-generation and digesters. In the company’s first phase, it plans to produce biodiesel with a business model that calls for extensive partnering to sell the company’s capabilities.

No doubt it will take several years to build out on a local biofuels model. But it sounds like an important step forward.

We live in a world of technology. Our kids grow up with computers as one of their best friends. They even mature together: The kids who grow up expect their systems to grow with them, which means that old computers are constantly replaced with new ones. Technology is evolving faster than we ever thought possible and I doubt that anyone will be surprised when machines become almost independent of their creators.

The biggest problem with self sustaining machinery is fuel. Just like we consume countless varieties of foods to keep us going throughout the day, a machine’s hunger pangs are generally alleviated with gas, electricity and batteries. The ideal machine, however, should be able to ‘survive’ on naturally occurring foods that are sustainable and abundant.

Science projects today, voracious self-serving servants tomorrow. (Image: Bristol Robotics Lab.)

This is where the Ecobot comes into play. Engineers at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory were motivated by the idea of developing autonomous robots able to collect energy from their surroundings, foraging for items like rotten fruit (similar to any other animal), while eliminating unnecessary waste from their systems after having consumed the ‘meal’. The design is nothing short of genius (if not eerie) and revolves around the robot’s Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC).

Bristol explains the MFC design for their Ecobot model: “the Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology is employed to extract electrical energy from refined foods such as sugar and unrefined foods such as insects and fruit. This is achieved by extracting electrons from the microbial metabolic processes. To be truly autonomous, robots will be required to incorporate in their behavioral repertoire actions that involve searching, collecting and digesting food. The robot will be designed to remain inactive until sufficient energy has been generated to complete its next task.”

The first Ecobot (aptly titled Ecobot I) was developed in 2002. E.coli bacteria were incorporated into the design and they powered the robot after ingesting sugar. The first ecobot was a small, simple robot that used the microbial energy charging its fuel cells to do nothing more than roll towards areas with more light. The light-loving Ecobot is described as a “960g robot, powered by microbial fuel cells (MFCs)…This robot does not use any other form of power source such as batteries or solar panels. It is 22cm in diameter and 7.5cm high.”

In 2004, an alternative robot was developed that used sludge microbes instead of E.coli bacteria. These sludge microbes seem more capable; digesting more complicated foods like dead insects and waste (like rotting produce) to fuel the MFC. Also, this technology seems much more beneficial to the environment.

Bristol has also been working on an underwater version of an ecobot that uses mechanical ‘gills’ to strain microorganisms into its fuel cell.

It is important to note that the robots developed by the laboratory are the first step towards the creation of incredible machines that are comparable to metal animals-foraging for foods that naturally surround them when fuel cells run low. Bristol’s findings are essential for the development of these complicated machines. Right now all we see is potential, but it would be incredible to have robots slurping up garbage strewn through parks, simultaneously cleaning up our messes and energizing themselves in the process. But, that is a long way off.

Modern urban centers from Manhattan to Hong Kong now boast neighborhoods that house well over 100,000 people per square mile, while providing their inhabitants an excellent quality of life. As world civilization voluntarily and inexorably urbanizes, new megacities will be built everywhere. It is estimated that within the next few decades the number of megacities on earth – defined as an urbanized area with over 10 million inhabitants – will increase from around 20 today to over 400. So what innovations being pioneered today will enable cities like this to provide a high quality of life, and how will cities of such size and density reduce their vulnerability to economic or physical disruptions?

In a way, a megacity is antithetical to the notion of being “off-grid,” yet in important ways it is the megacity that needs to be as self sufficient as possible, since having 100,000 people per square mile (20,000 per square kilometer) means that any resource that needs to be imported, stored or removed is going to have to be handled in very high volumes. Therefore energy efficiency, waste management, as well as energy and water harvesting and treatment are technologies that are extremely important to the megacity – along with smart systems to interconnect all of them. So along with energy and water efficiency, harvesting and reuse, how else can a megacity exist relatively off-grid? Equally important is the closely related question of how can a megacity experience a postive balance of payments – supporting itself economically?

Cities could become food exporters. (Image: VerticalFarm.com)

To explore this question beyond the usual suspects there are two evolving technologies (both are evolving, not emerging, because both have illustrious histories) that promise to transform megacities in important and very positive ways, one is high-rise agriculture, and the other is massive tunnelling systems.

It is common for the smart growth crowd to say “build up, not out,” but this misses two key points. First, of course, the smart growth advocates tend to forget that the smartest growth is unplanned. Centrally planned growth tends to actually promote sprawl, because those of us who don’t want to live in towers simply buy land and build homes on the far side of whatever “greenbelt” they manage to decree. But more on point, building up instead of out ignores building downwards as well. Some of the greatest urban gridlock ever seen has been ameliorated by tunnelling – anyone who tries to get to Logan Airport from downtown Boston during rush hour will have nothing but good things to say about the much maligned “big dig.” It’s too bad we don’t have more big digs – in the heart of urban centers we could put freeways and rail underground, and our cities could reach for the sky, and there would never be a traffic jam.

Tunnelling on a grand scale can seem mundane until you learn more about it – then you realize it is a fascinating field that is advancing at breakneck speed, incorporating new technology across multiple disciplines as fast as it becomes available. From GPS systems that allow a tunnelling machine to always know precisely where it is beneath the earth, to better cutting bits, to debris removal conveyers, to conveyers to bring forward shoring material, to worker shelter and control rooms, modern tunnelling machines can exceed a mile in length and cost billions to acquire and operate. The global leader in tunnelling systems is Herrenknecht AG. A good website that covers the world of tunnelling is tunnelmachines.com.

As the megacities of the future are built, tunnelling machines will play an integral part in endowing these cities with efficient transportation systems. Tunnelling underground to create utility conduits to transport water and energy will also be necessary in cities of ultra-high density. Using the volume of underground space to host much of the physical plant of megacities will make the surface areas far less congested, and far more pleasant for people. The underground systems of megacities can include large-scale water cisterns, or even enhanced geothermal power stations to extract power from the heat in the earth’s crust.

The imperative to build upwards is already a part of the new urban vision, but what about high-rise agriculture? The technology to grow food at extremely high volume indoors is already well understood – the Netherlands, for example, is a net food exporter in spite of being the most densely populated nation in Europe. But what the Dutch do using advanced hydroponics and lighting, in greenhouses that glow for miles across the reclaimed polders all year long, might instead take place on the stacked stories of a skyscraper.

One of the pioneers of high rise agriculture is Dickson Despommier, a professor at Columbia University and the founder of Vertical Farms LLC. Most of the technology to operate a vertical farm is already here, as well as much of the infrastructure. A properly designed vertical farm imports grey water (plenty of that in a mega-city) and pumps it to the top of the building, then allowing it to trickle downwards through hydroponic media on floor after floor. With mirrors and energy efficient lighting, along with daylight, a high-rise farm would probably consume, overall, less energy and water per calories grown than a greenhouse, since heating would be far more efficient in a multi-story structure. Despommier estimates a high rise farm on one city block (30 stories, 100,000 square feet per floor) could produce enough food to meet the needs of at least 10,000 people (possible much more, read “The Vertical Farm” .pdf, 2004). Every type of produce except for grains is potentially cost competitive to land-intensive traditional agriculture.

The implications of building upwards and downwards, employing novel technologies ranging from enhanced geothermal to high-rise farming, hold forth not only the oft-wished for promise of attracting humanity’s billions off the land and into densely populated megacities, but also the promise of cities that live nearly off the grid, cities that may, despite their magnitude, require very little from the rest of the world. Cities that might actually export power and food.

In the current economic environment, finding an industry with robust growth is a rarity. However, solar companies have been bucking the trend, posting stellar revenue growth and revealing the continued demand of solar modules worldwide. In fact, FSLR, which reported year-over-year sales growth of 119%, has experienced such rapid sales growth that the company is unable to meet customer demand due to constraints on their production capacity. Industry peers SunPower Corporation (SPWRA), and Energy Conversion Devices (ENER) also recorded phenomenal year-over-year sales growth of 61%, and 96%, respectively.

One factor contributing to the record performance in the solar space has been the implementation of feed-in tariffs (FiT). FiTs provide a profit incentive for individuals and businesses to invest in solar modules by greatly reducing their payback period on the initial investment. For years the European Union has paid individuals and businesses based on the amount of energy contributed to the electrical grid. As a result of FiTs, grid-linked solar power has grown 60% per annum from 2002-2006.

The first European country to seriously implement feed-in tariffs was Germany. An early adopter of solar technology, Germany had installed 1,400 MW of solar modules by the end of 2005, increasing the amount of electricity derived from renewable energy sources in the country to 10%. A whopping 70% of Germany’s renewable energy sources are sustained from feed-in tariffs.

The U.S. is now primed to follow Germany’s example. On February 6, Gainesville, Florida, passed an ordinance for the United States’ first solar FiT, setting a maximum of 4 megawatts (MW) of solar modules per year that can use the FiT. While this is not a significant amount of megawatts, the ordinance could provide the impetus for other cities in the U.S. to distribute FiTs. If the Gainesville ordinance is considered a success, there may be many more ordinances passed throughout the United States. States such as Minnesota, Michigan, and Indiana drafted feed-in tariff legislation in 2008, indicating that there may be more FiT ordinances passed in 2009.

While we are being cautiously optimistic about the growth of feed-in tariffs throughout the United States, the growth potential of solar modules in the United States compared to other countries is robust. The United States is more reliant on energy than any country in the world, which makes them the largest potential buyer of renewable energy sources in the world. If feed-in tariffs gain traction in the United States, demand for solar modules will spike significantly. With the biggest solar module manufacturing companies already being pushed toward production limits, there is a need for additional companies to manufacture solar modules. FiTs have led to massive increases in solar module installations, and there is plenty of market demand remaining for smaller competitors to take advantage of.

One company that we believe is poised to take advantage of this burgeoning demand is Worldwide Energy Manufacturing USA, Inc. (WEMU). WEMU’s revenue has grown more than fivefold year-over-year while earnings have more than tripled. With $38 million in contract backlog the company is expanding capacity with a lease for a 128,000-square-foot facility devoted exclusively to solar module manufacturing, which allows the company to move away from using subcontractors to manufacture their solar modules. Producing solar modules in-house will lead to higher margins across the board and increase WEMU’s bottom line.

The future is bright for solar companies big and small. Feed-in tariffs have a direct influence on individuals and businesses investing in solar power and the Gainesville ordinance will serve as a litmus test of FiTs in the U.S., providing a catalyst for solar module sales and manufacturers.

After spending 25 years designing over 600 communities in 45 states and 10 countries, we wrote the book Prefurbia to make an awareness for those involved in the processes of land development about new ideas, techniques and methods that we had discovered relating to suburban site design. In addition to these new methods, the book explains problems with the current regulatory systems, mostly caused by our minimums based regulations, and ending with an example of a new type of “rewards based” ordinance.

No matter how great it may be, any development plan is secondary to the presentation. The site plan is only part of the process to approval – the best site plan is only as good as the presentation to convince council or planning commission for a “Yes” vote.

These critical public meetings are the most important part of the entitlement process – no “Yes” vote: no deal – simple as that! Each presenter deals with the dog-and-pony show in their own ways with an endless variety of styles (or lack of style).

All of these public meetings have one thing in common –the neighbors (if any) will be there to oppose to the new development. Perfurbia is written from the perspective (needs) of these various parties with the process to approval, the planning commission and council members, the developer, and the design team.

In the old days there were three factions – the developer presenting the plan, the neighbors opposing the plan, and the council listening to both sides. If the development was high profile, someone from the local press might also show up to write an article about the controversy. The planning commission and council are fully aware that all plans will be met with neighbor opposition and they will have to listen to their lengthy complaints along the route to approving (possibly) the developer’s plan. In the past the citizens sitting on these boards would most likely dismiss Elwood and Betsy Smith’s complaint on how a development in their back yard would invade their privacy, and would vote in favor of that new master planned community instead.

Today there is often an additional audience – the entire region of neighbors – when the meetings are televised. The televised council listens to the neighbor’s objections, no matter how absurd they may be, then answers to the camera – the general community watching at home with answers that show they really care about every citizen’s opinion. The televised council member must never appear too much in favor of the developer as it can be misconstrued as not caring about the citizens they represent.

A televised Council member hears the Smith’s complaint and may look into the camera with a very concerned look explaining on how maybe we have too many new homes in this town and proceed to tell viewers that the developer might want to consider a buffer and dropping density. What is happening is that concerns go from developing economically sensible neighborhoods, perhaps to: “please elect me Mayor when I’m on the ballot.”
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Coving reduces surface runoff, enhances privacy, and exchanges road surface for increased lot sizes, allowing higher density without punishingly small homesites. (Image: Rick Harrison Site Design)

The design catalyst for Prefurbia is “coving,” a method created in the mid-1990’s that relies on new technologies to create a more efficient pattern of land development compared to conventional and traditional methods. Without lengthy explanation (the book is the best source for explanation) a by-product of Coving is that for any given density, the length of street is typically reduced by 25% with a corresponding increase in average lot size. Another side-effect is that the lot sizes vary greatly and rapidly from minimum to maximum to create the effect along the streetscape to pulloff the art of coved design.

With the new “green” movement towards environmentally responsible development – coving can be the perfect solution as a reduction in the run-off from paved surfaces combined with the increase in organic area is a perfect foundation for Green Design.

In the early years of Coved design, virtually all the work was done in the USA. Our first large site plan done outside the States, was in Freeport, Bahamas. We designed Heritage Village, which began as a TND layout (by another planning firm) and ended up with our new method of Coving. In 2000 when we were first contacted to design Heritage Village we asked about doing presentations to the city council and planning commission to help move the approval process along. We were told that the development company and the regulating entity were the same, if they liked the plan it would be built! That is exactly what had happened.

Our next attempt of the Coving outside the USA were not so easy. In Mexico City we were told to keep the minimum and maximum range of lot sizes under 20% – a regulation which essentially kills the use of coving to be efficient, however later we found the Monterrey region of Mexico more progressive to work with.

In Puerto Rico, the horizontal regulations were no problem to work with, but the vertical (slope) regulations were problematic in Coved design in steep slopes. These slope regulations did not have alternatives which would have made more sense – they were untouchable. On relatively flat sites – no problem, steep sloped sites are very difficult to comply with (not impossible but difficult) when coved.

Since then we wrongly assumed that planning outside the USA could have similar problems with restrictions that were absurdly prohibitive for designing great neighborhoods. In Puerto Rico, when we asked to sit down with the government officials to change policy to create better neighborhoods, the developer said – no. At the time we did not understand why it was so critical that we were rejected to suggest changes.

It was only when we worked in Bogota, Columbia that we realized their systems may not be so backwards after all… Last year we were hired to do some significant planning work in Columbia. My first request was that we meet with the authorities to show them new ways to design neighborhoods and start working on changing the regulations, and were given (like Puerto Rico) an absolute – NO!

Unlike Puerto Rico, the basic setback and engineering minimums were not as restrictive and did not limit the design process. We then asked to present the plan to the authorities – and were told that was not necessary. Being it was Columbia you can imagine that at first we thought: Cartels? Corruption? The reality was much simpler. Since our plans met the minimums (they actually exceeded them), they were automatically considered approved! Imagine that – no neighbors to complain! If everything conforms – it should be approved – right? Just plain old common sense! That was exactly what was going on in Puerto Rico – in Mexico City, in fact in many countries we would think were backwards were in fact very forward thinking. Developers who follow the zoning – who follow the minimums do not need public meetings!

When you think about it, in this country if the development being submitted meets or exceeds the zoning (and the subdivision regulation minimums), why does it need to go through any of the public approvals at all? The American Developer often faces months or years of delays, enormous interest payments, the tens of thousands (perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars) spent on consultants and legal help for plans that conform. Instead that massive sum of money could go towards making a better neighborhood, better architecture, better landscaping, less environmental impacts! What a concept!

Reducing minimums would still require public meetings, however. The public would still have plenty of input when the regulations and zoning changes. Those types of meetings should be public to get citizen input. If the developer is proposing something that goes below minimums or does not conform to zoning, then it is reasonable to go through the more time consuming process that we currently have.

So this brings up the question – how would the developer introduce something different to the written law? This could be a particularly bad problem under typical PUD (Planned Unit Development) regulations which typically give blanket changes to the minimums when alternative designs are not covered by straight zoning. This PUD Pandoras box, once opened can have devastating results when the staff and neighbors both agree that the plan is simply not good enough.

When the developer thinks the plan is just fine a battle of wills ensues that can last years of revisions and legal battles – in the end these expensive delays increase lot costs – the home buyer ultimately pays. The problem is that most PUD’s are simply too vague.

If a PUD ordinance, or any special ordinance such as Cluster Conservation, or Coving was specifically spelled out – developers would get rewarded for great plans complete with open space and connectivity(typically density and setback relaxations). Simple and somewhat easy to administer.

Perfurbia’s hundreds of new concepts, methods, and industry bullet points are a wealth of information useful to anyone involved with land development. But what we began to realize after writing Perfurbia, is a new thought – how did we take something so simple and let it get so out of control?

These “third world” countries that are so progressive as to actually allow developers who comply with the rules to quickly build their neighborhood – maybe are not so third world after-all. Perhaps we have the regulations and systems as it exist is to keep the system “busy” with many billable hours. Imagine if we could simply get a plan stamped and the next day construction could begin. How many billable earning hours are eliminated, how much less construction and land holding interest saved? That would be very hard to calculate, but it’s most likely significant.

It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it…
Al Gore – “The Inconvenient Truth”

The inconvenient truth won’t win me many friends in the consulting industry who’s income depends upon generating billing time (meetings), but can we afford to continue down the path we are presently in?

Rick Harrison is the President of Rick Harrison Site Design (www.rhsdplanning.com), and author of Prefurbia, published by the efforts of Sustainable Land Development International, www.sldi.org and available directly from www.prefurbia.com.

Wind turbine farms are popping up all over the place. The mammoth wind-mills are planted in the ground and then proceed to twirl their giant blades in a lazy circular motion, pumping out electricity in the process. The blades that cut through the sky vary in size, but are generally around 35 meters long. Of course some are bigger…much bigger. The largest turbine in the world – the Enercon E-126 – has a rotor diameter of 126 meters and stands proudly in Emden, Germany where it generates 20 million kilowatt hours per year. In the United States, wind generated power accounts for about one percent of the energy consumed. Wind turbines are symbols of the alternative energy movement, but the consequences of living near a wind farm aren’t always positive ones.

Wind turbines are constantly evolving into bigger, more efficient, and quieter machines. Unfortunately, individuals living next to these farms may complain of illnesses linked to the slow humming of the blades cutting through the wind. Symptoms range from migraines and mood swings to stomach aches and ulcers.

As if that isn’t enough, many individuals find that the large structures ruin the flow of the landscape, while others are horrified at the sight of a dead bird or bat lying near the turbine, after having suffered fatal injuries from flying near the blades.

The rapid spinning of the blades causes the air pressure around them to fluctuate. Decreases in the air pressure around turbines on exceptionally windy days have been known to kill bats by destroying their sensitive lungs, while vibrations in the air may not be heard, but can travel for miles effecting individuals living nearby.

Wind turbines are an excellent source of alternative energy, but not when human health is put on the line. This is a controversial topic, since organizations like the American Wind Energy Association claim that the noise from a wind turbine (1,000 feet away) is comparable to the light hum of a kitchen refrigerator, while neighbors to the farms are adamant that the contraptions have a detrimental effect on their lives.

Engineers are constantly improving wind-power technology with sound-dampening technologies, while researchers recommend that a wind farm should be surrounded with a buffer zone up to 3 miles wide. In theory, wind turbines are a great energy source: They are clean, efficient, self sustaining and create numerous jobs in an economy where finding employment is becoming more and more difficult. But nobody accounted for the health problems that the turbines seem to blow into homes.

Wind turbines are an innovative solution to the energy crisis. However, we can assume that there are going to be issues associated with wind farms until the design has been perfected.

The Enercon E-126 6.0 Megawatt Wind Turbine, the largest wind turbine in the world, stands 656 feet (198 meters) from base to top of rotor sweep.

PORTLAND, Maine, February 11, 2009 —IntertechPira, a leading conference and research organization is pleased to announce Dr Jean Posbic, Director of Projects of BP Solar and Dr Tom Surek, PV Consultant and former PV Program Manager of NREL as Co-Chairs for the two-day conference and exhibition.

Set for June 1 – 3, 2009 at the Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco, CA, US, speakers will include:

• Suniva
• Solaicx
• EuPD Research
• SolFocus
• Safeway
• Moser Baer
• AltaTerra Research
• Global Market Consultants
• Tioga Energy
• Spire Solar
• Rofin-Sinar
• KV Architects
• Recurrent Energy
• Signet Solar
• Steve Ransome Consulting
• Harvard University
• Unisolar

Harvard University and Unisolar will present the latest market trends and developments, efficiency and lifetime challenges and production technologies and applications to engage in comprehensive discussions with

key innovators and decision makers from the technical and business sides of the PV, OPV and organic and printed electronics industries.“This is an exciting time for alternative energy, and for solar in particular, “said Senior Conference Producer, Jessica Johnson. ” A new administration focused on developing new solar projects could mean new opportunities for novel technologies and innovative companies. I’m optimistic that this year’s Photovoltaics Summit is going to be the best yet, with an expanded program and almost twice the number of speakers from last year!”To expand upon the alternative energy market, the week will continue with Concentrating Solar Thermal Power 2009 set for June 4 – 5, 2009 at the Hotel Kabuki. Co-Chaired by Rainer Aringhoff, Solar Millennium and Fred Morse, Abengoa Solar, this two day conference and exhibition will address the current issues in the utility scale solar arena. Attendees will hear the latest updates and developments from leading power purchasers and project developers and receive insight into the latest public and private funding activities. Additional topics to be discussed include transmission, onsite planning and the latest technology and systems.

Confirmed speakers include:

• APS
• PG&E
• Nevada Power Company
• Skyfuel
• SolarReserve
• Emerging Energy Research
• Navigant
• Milbank
• Chadbourne & Parke
• Stirling Energy Systems
• Terrafore

With alternative energy on the rise, these conferences provide exclusive platforms for anyone interested in learning how the US market is ready to move forward with the times.

For program details and registering options, please visit the Photovoltaics Summit website:

About IntertechPira

IntertechPira provides events, training, online information and publications across a wide range of zeitgeist issues and disruptive technologies affecting industry. Our 100% independent products are provided globally 24/7 and delivered by teams of independent experts at sites in Portland, ME, US and London, UK through 20 specialized industrial platforms. Our core competencies are information on: research and product development, globalization and new markets; production methods; regulatory and compliance.

Press Contact:

Sheri Bonnell, Press Officer
sheri.bonnell@pira-international.com
(207) 781-9637

PORTLAND, Maine, February 11, 2009 —IntertechPira, a leading conference and research organization is pleased to announce Jacques Schirazi, Manager of the City of San Diego’s Cleantech Initiative, is set to deliver the opening night keynote address at the 7^th annual Advanced Capacitors World Summit 2009 set for March 31 – April 2, 2009 at the Hilton Torrey Pines in La Jolla, CA, US.

Recently established in 2007, San Diego’s Cleantech Initiative is an effort to promote the expansion, attraction and retention of businesses that develop products and technologies that provide environmentally sustainable solutions. The city’s goal is to become a leader in clean technology research and development by “sparking a clean technology cluster,” attracting ventures and R&D communities focused on energy efficiency, renewable energy, transportation, and water management technologies. Schirazi’s opening address will cover recent developments and accomplishments with city’s initiative.

Co-Chaired by Richard Smith, ANA Strategic System Group and Andrew Burke of the University of California Davis Institute of Transportation Studies, Advanced Capacitors World Summit 2009 is designed to help current and prospective users, integrators and suppliers of advanced power systems understand modern energy storage and delivery challenges for power intensive applications and identify business opportunities and realities with adopting advanced capacitors and capacitor hybrid systems to solve application energy requirements. Speakers will discuss the latest market trends and developments, power engineering and integration strategies, design and business implications and costs associated with advanced power systems for various applications, including transportation, automotive, power and consumer electronics and renewable energy. Presentations from APowerCap Technologies, Arizona State University, Battery Ventures, Eaton Corporation, General Electric Global Research Center, Gonano Technologies, Ionix Power Systems, Ivus Energy Innovations, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Maxwell Technologies, M Cubed Consulting, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Nesscap, PC Krause and Associates Inc., Rockport Capital, Sandia Laboratories, Sigma Technologies International, University of Arizona, University of California Davis and Volvo Technology Corporation will expand upon these topics during the two days of networking.

One pre-conference seminar led by Ionix Power Systems and a plant tour of ISE Corporation will be held prior to the conference on Tuesday, March 31.

As one of the worlds leading forums for discussing the latest technical advances and market trends in the EC industry, IntertechPira’s Advanced Capacitors World Summit 2009 is a dynamic industry event, providing a unique opportunity to gain the necessary knowledge and network with global leaders from around the world. For complete program details and registering options, please visit: www.advancedcapacitorsws.com

About IntertechPira

IntertechPira provides events, training, online information and publications across a wide range of zeitgeist issues and disruptive technologies affecting industry. Our 100% independent products are provided globally 24/7 and delivered by teams of independent experts at sites in Portland, ME, US and London, UK through 20 specialized industrial platforms. Our core competencies are information on: research and product development, globalization and new markets; production methods; regulatory and compliance.

Press Contact:

Sheri Bonnell, Press Officer
sheri.bonnell@pira-international.com

207.781.9637
207.781.2150

http://www.intertechpira.com

http://www.advancedcapacitorsws.com

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“I’m very excited that the City of San Diego will be delivering the opening keynote address. San Diego is doing great things to help attract and facilitate growth of ventures developing clean energy storage and delivery technologies”