Just sat through another buzzword-filled business plan presentation. The strategy involved developing a revolutionary new technology while cloaked in stealth mode (“what are you hiding from whom?”) then suddenly emerging from their new orbit to disrupt everything. Riker to Picard, “Captain, scanners are detecting signs of Disruptor fire!” Holy Star Trek, Batman, you can’t trust a Romulan! Coming soon: T-Shirts that exclaim “I...

In manufacturing, viability hinges on production yield. In energy devices, viability hinges on conversion efficiency.   Less is less   The notion that higher conversion efficiency is better than lower efficiency is intuitive. With higher efficiency, more is produced from the same resource. Higher efficiency does have higher inherent value. What is often counter-intuitive, however, is that low-price scenarios can produce dramatic...

With its extensive history and successful implementation, the German solar PV Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) program has become the reference for all others. Shortly after the launch of the Ontario FIT program, Deutsche Bank praised the Ontario program by noting, “Two of the most advanced FiTs in our view at present are Germany and Ontario.” Recent proposed changes within the Ontario MicroFIT program (sub 10 kW projects) to distinguish between...

Reprinted with permission from PHOTON Magazine, February 2010. Melissa Bosworth – Until recently, there was no solar energy to speak of in Ontario’s energy mix. At the beginning of 2008, the Ontario Power Authority estimated the entire province’s grid-connected capacity at 300 kW. Since then, the provincial government under Premier Dalton McGuinty has taken dramatic steps toward major market growth. The key to the most recent...

This document has been prepared to provide a summary of the key aspects of the Ontario FIT and its Domestic Content requirements with an emphasis on solar PV installations. Download (right-click,...

This paper discussed Ballard’s 1996 advances in the development of PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell stationary power plants. It also covered Ballard’s commercialization plan and its then current status, providing a unique insight into the electric generation market of 1996, and considering the role that fuel cells could play in a deregulated electric utility market. Download PDF (right-click,...