NTS Smart Technology Blog

Announcing “Project Things” – An open framework for connecting your devices to the web

Last year, we said that Mozilla is working to create a framework of software and services that can bridge the communication gap between connected devices. Today, we are pleased to announce that anyone can now build their own Things Gateway to control their connected device directly from the web. We kicked off “Project Things”, with the goal of building a decentralized ‘Internet of Things’ that is…

Indiana politicians got thousands in gifts while pushing solar law

Colts games. Cigar bars. Cocktail lounges and dinners at Indy’s top spots. It may sound like the life of a top CEO or a major celebrity. But in fact, it’s all in a day’s work for some Indiana legislators. Source: Indiana politicians got thousands in gifts while pushing solar law

Smart grid tech tested to balance Swedish solar, wind and battery system

E.ON has implemented a solar, wind and battery storage microgrid for a Swedish village.The southern village of Simris, which features 140 households, now gets its power from 500 kW of wind power, 440 kW of solar PV panels and an 800 kW battery. Source: Smart grid tech tested to balance Swedish solar, wind and battery system – Decentralized Energy

Natural defense – how the US military is embracing solar power

The biggest solar panel installation in Florida went live this summer, an initiative that will drastically cut CO2 emissions by powering tens of thousands of homes with natural energy.Coronal Energy, part of the Panasonic Group, is a North American provider of renewable energy solutions. Traditionally, its customers have been utility companies like Southern California Edison and Duke Energy, but…

This wallpaper is actually a tiny solar panel

Wallpaper seems to be having a moment. Whether conductive or metallic, these wall coverings are definitely not your grandparents’ wallpaper. Now another innovation has emerged, this time out of London, where researchers at the Imperial College London have created a “living” wallpaper. Working with the University of Cambridge and Central Saint Martins, researchers found a way to harvest…

Critics blast TVA monopoly and urge changes in solar power pricing

A former chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority claims the current leadership of the federal utility is abandoning TVA’s pioneering role in promoting solar power and other renewable energy sources in favor of helping big industry and the municipalities and power co-ops that distribute TVA’s power. Source: Critics blast TVA monopoly and urge changes in solar power pricing | Times Free Press

Battery storage, smart grid and energy efficiency investment tops $1bn

Investment in the battery energy storage, smart grid and energy efficiency sectors has topped $1bn in the first nine months of this year, new analysis has found.In its quarterly global funding and M&A report for the three sectors, released this week, clean energy consultancy Mercom Capital found that the $1.23bn raised by battery storage, smart grid and energy efficiency firms this year beat the…

Japan unveils new technology to generate solar power on water

Japan has abundant dams and reservoirs, which attract many companies to promote solar power plant built on the surface of water. At Yamakura Dam, which is using industrial water supply in Chiba prefecture, a solar power plant using Kyocera’s solar panels on the surface of the reservoir of the dam will begin operating. “The reservoir of the dam has a surface area of about 60 hectares. A solar…

Lazard: Wind & Solar Power Costs Continue To Fall, Putting Coal & Nuclear At A Disadvantage

Lazard is a global asset management company that tracks the cost of producing electricity, among other things. It uses a measure called the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), which averages the estimated costs of construction, maintenance, and fuel for electricity generating assets over the number of megawatt-hours that each is expected to produce over its lifetime. In simple terms, it is one way…

Electricity created by residential solar panels can now be more easily stored for later use, such as when the sun goes down or during a power outage.A new generation of lithium-ion batteries that are totally sealed and wall mounted in a similar fashion to a flatscreen television, are being introduced to Bermuda.While it has always been possible for householders to store excess electricity from…

Tampa Electric Plans Large Solar Power Expansion

Regulators have approved a plan to allow Tampa Electric to expand its solar power generation to carry nearly seven percent of the utility’s capacity while also granting a rate freeze for electricity customers for the next four years. “This is a win for customers and a win for the environment,” Gordon Gillette, president and chief executive officer of the Tampa-based utility, said in a press…

Can Puerto Rico Overcome a Colonial Past to Build a Greener Grid?

On September 20, Hurricane Maria swept across Puerto Rico, destroying its electricity grid. The storm felled half of the cross-island transmission towers. Nine out of 10 back-alley power poles blew down. Every single customer on the island lost power. Amid the wreckage lies an opportunity for Puerto Rico to rebuild stronger and smarter. Tesla chief Elon Musk said his company will power the island…

Can Solar Survive Without Subsidies?

In an increasing number of regions in the U.S., solar (and wind) power can produce electricity at the same cost – or lower – than more traditional fuels, like coal or natural gas. We call it reaching “grid parity” here in the business. The catch, however, is what happens when government subsidies are removed from the calculation. That’s why what happened at the end of September in the UK may be a…

Student uses solar energy to power personal devices

Jacob Wilmoth, mechanical and aerospace engineering senior, bought two solar panels and a battery this past summer.“I wanted to play around with solar panels and batteries, so I started off with a solar panel kit off of Amazon,” Wilmoth said.Wilmoth is from Moore and during tornado season, he said it was nice to have a battery backup during storms to keep his room powered and his devices charged.…

UK’s biggest solar farm planned for Kent coast

An enormous solar power station is planned for the north Kent coast that would be the UK’s biggest and dwarf existing solar farms, providing a significant boost to an industry that has stalled since ministers halted subsidies 18 months ago. Cleve Hill, a mile from the historic town of Faversham, would have five times the capacity of the UK’s current largest solar farm and provide enough power for…

The Truth About Efficiency in Solar Power Generation

If solar energy is inefficient, then how do solar energy organizations sell their products? originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Michael Barnard, low-carbon innovation analyst, on Quora: Efficiency is an interesting concept when you talk about renewable energy. Mostly, it’s…

How a smart grid can empower a smart city

As smart cities continue to depart the realm of fiction and instead become a staple of life in the 21st century, eager entrepreneurs and aspirational scientist alike are increasingly turning to smart grids to power these cities of the future. Designing the infrastructure which enables smart cities is anything but easy, however, and many people today seem entirely unfamiliar with even the basic…