China on Pace for Record Solar Capacity as Forecasts Jump

China, the world’s biggest carbon emitter, is poised to install a record amount of solar-power capacity this year, prompting researchers to boost forecasts as much as 80 percent.

About 54 gigawatts will be put in place this year, Bloomberg New Energy Finance said Monday, raising a forecast of more than 30 gigawatts made in July. That amount of additional capacity would likely surpass all the solar energy generated in Japan in 2017.

“The amount of rooftop solar plants and projects aimed at easing poverty were more than expected and developers rushed to build some ground-mounted solar projects before they have been allocated subsidies,” said Yvonne Liu, a BNEF analyst in Beijing.

The growth of the market has benefited top panel (for example GOAL ZERO NOMAD 13 ) producers, including JinkoSolar Holding Co. and Trina Solar Ltd. China installed 43 gigawatts of solar power in the first nine months of 2017, already above the 34.5 gigawatts for all of last year.

China has been the world’s biggest solar market since 2013. It surpassed Germany as the country with the most installed photovoltaic power capacity two years ago.

CCB International Securities Ltd. raised its forecast for China’s solar power capacity to 55 gigawatts from 40 gigawatts for 2018, according to a Nov. 17 note.

“We have a bright outlook for the entire supply chain of China’s solar sector as new policies are introduced to liberalize direct power sales for distributed power generation and based on our assumption of tariff hikes and a higher renewable surcharge in 2018,” CCB said.

Half of all additions to China’s electricity generating capacity since 2013 have been renewables or nuclear, according to the International Energy Agency. By 2040, the IEA sees renewables accounting for 40 percent of total power generation. Coal, which contributes about 67 percent of generation now, will fall to 40 percent over that period.

A garage door repair planning

Many of us out there are thinking that is this important? I mean is the garage door repair important. Is it important to spend money especially on the garage door repair? But I would like to tell you that yes it is very important. As it is we all want that our house should look great, every person who comes to house should praise your house, but this is something we say about the interiors of the house, but what about the exteriors, do we actually realise that how much important is the outer look of the house is, that every passerby is looking at the house from outside only, it’s not like everybody will be able to come to your house. So you only need to do something that the other people can see your beautiful house from outside and should appreciate from inside and outside too.

Now we would talk about that how is the outer look of the house decided? We sometimes think that only the paints of the house are important, but tell me tell you that most of the times the kind of garage door you are having is the main factor to decide your house looks. The way your garage door look is mainly dependent upon how you are maintaining it, but the main thing is that, that are we actually caring about how the garage door is looking like? Not to worry about all these things now, because over here we are going to tell you that how you can maintain the garage door.

Firstly few important things which are to be kept in mind:


Checking it our means that you have to take a look of the garage door and see that which part of the door is to be repaired, are there some nuts or the bolts which have got weakened up because of the regular opening and closing of the door and any other things which are to be done, by doing this you will be able to note down only the parts which are to repaired and this will cost you very less as compared to replacing it out, this also depends upon the condition of the garage door. Do keep in mind to keep the children away from the garage door while you are checking it out.
Getting some professional help:

Do not try to do all the work by yourself only, you are not the repairer, you have to get some professional who does this kind of work all the time, because it may be possible that you may hurt yourself while doing this repair work by yourself, try to stay away if you do not know the technicalities of the work.
Money factor:

Many people would not get the garage door repaired because they would be worried about the money they will have to spend on this, but do not worry, if you plan out the things this will become more easy for you, you just need to decide that which parts are to be repaired, and if you are not able to do this at the present moment then you can just carry on this to the next month, till then you can just save some money and then get it repaired, isn’t it very smile and valid for all? Yes it is.

These above mentioned things are very important to be followed, for the smooth and easy work. After this we are going to discuss that why is it important for you to get the garage door repaired:
For your own safety purpose:

If you are actually thinking that a garage door cannot harm anyone in any sense, then let me tell you that by as chance if the nuts of the door gets weakened up then any part of the door can fall upon anyone, as it is we all know that the children keep on playing with everything they get near to, they it may be possible that they can even get near to the garage door, and this may hurt them in a very bad manner.
That bad look:

Nobody wants that their house should look bad, but because of the rusted or faded look of the garage door opener (like MIGHTY MULE 502 ) all the looks of the house too get faded away. Think of the time when you came to the house new, and think that how much you loved the look of the house, but are we so much busy in our works that we are not even having time for get a small garage door repaired, which can make our house look ten times better that before.

Below are some points you have to remember like forever, these are the reasons due to which the garage door gets in the bad condition:
The weather:

Actually we may consider the factor a small one, but this is a matter of fact that the rusty irritating looks of the door comes from the watery seasons that are the winter season or the rainy season. And the faded looks are obviously because of the sun light falling upon the door. For this you need to get the weather shield paints and put on the garage door.
The regular and the rough use of the garage door:

We do not mind opening or closing the garage door in a rough manner, we understand that opening it is important but we can also do this thing in a polite manner, because the biggest reason for the wear and tear of the garage door is the harsh use of it. So just slow down in your work at do things in a different manner.

The above mentioned things are such things that if they are being followed then you will be able to get that trendy and the good looks of your house back and even will be able to get the safety of your family. So do not think of anything plan out budgets and get your new garage door.

5 tips on buying the correct power bank for your mobile device

Take note of these charging specs

Most people buy power banks (for example: GOAL ZERO SWITCH 10 MULTI-TOOL KIT ) based on capacity alone. For me, the battery within is only half the story, the other half depends on other features and smarts the maker has built into the power bank.

Here are three I pay attention to:

i) Power bank’s output power

Most smartphone-oriented output a 1A current (over 5V), which is fine if your device only accepts up to 1A. But many devices, like the newer iPhones and Android devices that support fast charging (be it based on Qualcomm’s Quick Charge or some other proprietary implementations), are able to accept different current and voltage levels.

Hence, it’s good to know how fast your device can charge, and get a power bank that supports it. For iPhones and iPads, I suggest power banks that have 2.4A outputs; for Android devices, at least 1.5A. In the past, most power banks had hardwired ports, with labels like ‘Apple’ and ‘Android’. Today, more and more power banks have smart ports to intelligently detect the amount of power needed, so they can provide the fastest possible charge automatically, regardless of what device goes into which port.

If your device supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge tech, your fastest charge will come from a port that supports the respective Quick Charge standard. The ability to work with higher currents and more voltage levels dynamically is basically Quick Charge’s secret sauce. Power banks that support Qualcomm’s fast charging tech will be quick to point it out on their packaging.

ii) Power bank’s input power

This refers to the power the power bank is able to accept when you’re recharging it. The higher the input, the faster it’ll recharge. This is more important if you’ve a high-capacity power bank. Imagine a 20,000mAh power bank with a 0.5A/5V input, it’ll take two full days to recharge! If I’m buying a big power bank, I’ll make sure the input port supports at least 2A over 5V.

Some premium power banks also support Qualcomm’s Quick Charge at its input port. This allows the power bank to recharge at an even faster rate, assuming a Quick Charge-compatible USB charger is used, too. Using a 20,000mAh power bank as an example, if it supports recharging at 2A but now over 9V due to Quick Charge, it’ll take just under seven hours to completely recharge.

iii) Power adapter

Most power bank makers don’t throw in a USB charger, because you’re expected to use the one that came with your mobile device. For the most part, that’s fine, as most smartphone and tablet USB chargers today are capable of 2A at 5V.

The problem here is not all USB chargers are the same, and many people make the mistake of using very old USB chargers to charge up their power banks. If your power bank takes forever to recharge, what you can do is check if your USB wall charger is providing sufficient power. Charging a power bank through a computer’s USB port is also not advised, unless you’re geeky enough to know and ensure that it’s providing sufficient power.

4.) Lithium-ion or lithium polymer?

I've had readers asking if they should buy power banks with lithium-ion batteries or lithium polymer ones. The short answer: It doesn't matter.

While there are charging/discharging characteristic differences between both types, for day to day use, they are for the most part indistinguishable to end users. If anything, you may notice some power banks are much flatter than others. In such cases, they're most likely using lithium polymer (or rather, lithium-ion polymer) batteries, because the softer packaging allows for more flexibility in shape and size. Chunky power banks with rounded sides usually use 18650-type lithium-ion cells with a cylindrical casing.

And while some may argue that thin, lithium polymer batteries in a softer case are more dangerous than lithium-ion batteries encased in a harder shell, manufacturers do have enough means to reduce safety risks and hazards, be it through improving the electrolyte used (for lithium polymer), or through better safety mechanisms and power bank case designs.


Put another way, it's not so much what type of battery is used, but who makes it.

5.) Consider paying more for quality and safety

Since batteries can explode, some power bank makers will tell you (usually on the packaging) where they source their batteries from, as an attempt to prove that their products are safe. Such disclosures are definitely welcomed, but again, the battery is only one of the many components in a power bank. The design of the circuit board, the quality of chips used, and how the safety mechanisms are implemented also play a role when it comes to safety.

Unfortunately, while there are hundreds of power bank makers out there, only a handful are that forthcoming. If you aren’t the technical type, the simplest way is to just buy from name brands or reputable vendors with proven track records. For those feeling adventurous, if there’s an unfamiliar brand you wish to try, at least do some research on the Internet or in the forums to see if there’s any feedback from other users. In the past, I’ve seen issues like improper charging sneaking past the testing stage, only to be discovered when the product was sold to users.

Lastly, when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Yes, there are decent and cheap power banks out there (e.g., those from Xiaomi), but for such power banks, some advanced features have to be omitted to keep the price down. If you chanced upon a S$20 power bank that claims to have a 20,000mAh battery, have two smart 2.4A ports and one Quick Charge 2.0 port, and is as thin as a pencil, let me know - I’ll be more than happy to unmask this fake unicorn.

There are three main types of solar panels

Residential solar panels (for example: GOAL ZERO NOMAD 7 PLUS ) though all silicon-based, come in three types and have their own pros and cons.

Polycrystalline panels are the simplest to manufacture and therefore the cheapest, although they can suffer in high-temperature climates and are slightly less efficient than their monocrystalline counterparts (although typically not enough for the average homeowner to worry about). These guys are bright blue and really stand out, as opposed to monocrystalline panels, which are uniformly black. Monocrystalline panels are longer-lasting, the most efficient, and perform better in low-light conditions, which makes them a little more expensive.

Thin-film panels, while growing in popularity, are the least efficient of all and require more soft costs. That said, they are light and flexible enough to be transformed into individual solar-powered roof shingles — so cool, and very much an indication of what to expect from solar in the future.


Most people share their solar energy with their utility companies — but you can keep it all to yourself.

Net-metering is the most popular and cost-effective way to store electricity. It hooks your solar panels back into the power grid, so if your home needs more energy than your solar array can manage, it will automatically pull it in. On the flip side, when your system produces more than you are using, the excess flows back out in the grid — spinning your utility billing meter backward as it goes.

The other option is off-grid, where your electricity is all stored in a large battery bank on your property. The average US home uses 911kWh per month — about 40 batteries worth, which can add upward of $16,000 to your whole setup. That said, storing your energy off-grid means you can have electricity in even the remotest areas, or when the grid fails in a power outage.

You can score a pretty sweet deal on solar right now.

The federal government and various states and municipalities have a ton of subsidies to help transition communities into energy independence and reduce greenhouse gases. One of the most well-known incentives is the the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), a federal 30 percent renewable energy tax credit, which has been extended by Congressthrough 2019.

Dr. Lombardo sees an even brighter future for solar: “Prices for PV are dropping, and at the same time, energy costs are increasing. When more utilities install smart meters, they’ll implement time-of-use pricing, which means electricity will cost more during peak demand times like late afternoon. A PV array is a great way to reduce your energy bill, since PV will generate much, if not all, of your electricity during those peak hours.”

Be sure to check your specific area for other types of incentives that can range from rebates to tax breaks to low-interest loans. The NC Clean Energy Technology Centerhas a nifty search tool for incentives by your ZIP code.
The Bottom Line

Adding solar energy to your home is a great — but massive — investment, so it’s important to pick powerful and efficient panels from a reliable manufacturer.

Take Action


Do the math. If you’re planning on moving before you recoup your initial investment, solar panels don’t make a lot of financial sense. You can use a solar savings calculatorto estimate your return, or crunch the numbers yourself to determine your monthly savings. First, divide the monthly output hours of your system by the kilowatt-hours you use per month to find what percentage of your bill solar would cover. (You can find your kilowatt-hours on your electric bill.) Then, multiply your electric bill by that percentage to see how much you could save a month — although assume it will typically be less since you won’t always have perfect solar conditions.

Consider your roof. Since the bulk of the bill comes in the form of soft costs, make sure your roof has 15–25 years of lifetime left. If your roof needs to be replaced sooner than that, you could be saddled with removing, then re-installing, your panels. And before any of that, contact the company that installed your roof to check if adding solar panels may void its warranty.

Shop around for an installer. “A good installer will perform a complete financial analysis, including payback period,” adds Dr. Lombardo. “They will also investigate local, state, and federal incentives, help the customer complete the necessary paperwork to obtain those incentives, and factor those into the financial analysis.” Hobson agrees: “It’s worth noting that there are many quality solar panels, regardless of their technology type. However, consumers should think beyond the panel to find an installer with a positive track record for residential projects.” And the best way to find the right installer for your home is to get several personalized quotes. Click here to customize your search to fit your needs.

How Alternative Commute Options Can Benefit Your Business

As a business owner, you are constantly making decisions which will help to ensure optimum levels of productivity and keep your employees satisfied at work. Supporting different commute options for your employees can be a great way to help keep your business thriving by improving productivity, reducing stress, saving money, helping the environment and even making a contribution to the local community. Business owners and employers actually have a lot more to gain than they may realise when it comes to supporting transportation options for their workforce. Helping your employees to find alternative commute options rather than racking up more mileage for their vehicles can help to reduce pollution, improve employee health and well-being, and reduce traffic congestion.

Carpooling Options

Although it’s definitely a good idea to encourage your employees to get more physical activity in by walking or cycling to work instead of driving, if this isn’t possible a carpool or rideshare option makes a great alternative. Supporting carpooling options for your employees, for example setting up a ride on Ridester can not only help your employees to save money, it’s also a great way for them to socialise at work, too. Along with this, if you reimburse mileage for trips to events such as meetings and conferences, encouraging your employees to ride share can actually help to save you money when it comes to business costs.

How can Small Business Owners Protect Their Business with Latest Cameras

There have been a lot of upgrades in the security camera business over the past decade or so. Part of that is because advanced cameras were developed for recent wars- and then the capabilities that they possessed were ported to the civilian version as time went on. Owners who wish to install cameras in their business therefore have several directions that they can move in to upgrade. Here are some of the top current choices:

Infrared: Although they have traditionally cost a little bit more, infrared cameras are one of the strongest theft deterrents because they can be used in so many ways to detect criminal activity. To begin with, they can help you see better at night because the view that is created is not impeded like a regular camera lens would be. In addition, because infrared can pickup the differences in temperature change from far away, it is possible for them to be set to detect temperature changes that will capture movement by people that are trained to evade traditional cameras.

Sensors and Directional Sound: If you would like to augment your capabilities, one of the most popular ways to do so in California is to use sophisticated sensors, business cameras, and directional sound to create a scare zone for would-be robbers. The system normally uses the sensors to locate burglars while the cameras record and directional sound is used to hammer the would-be trespasser. In most cases, security companies that sell their services to your company will be instantly alerted by the system in case it detects motion. The system will then use the Internet to allow you or your security people to talk to the intruder if you choose.

How Does Office Décor Impact Your Small Business

The décor of your office says a lot about your business, just like the appearance of a person says a lot about him or her. When interviewing a candidate for a job would you hire someone who looks disheveled and is not dressed appropriately? I didn’t think so. Then why would a client hire your services if your office looks decrepit. How the office looks from outside and inside impacts how your clients perceive your business and how much business you get from them. I have come across several clients who decided against hiring a lawyer or an accountant after they visited their office that looked awful. So how can you improve the office décor, and in turn your business?

There are two aspects of the office décor that you need to pay attention to – inside and outside.

Outside Décor

The outside of your office builds the first impression in client’s mind. If it doesn’t look appealing they will immediately form the opinion about the state of your business thinking you can’t even afford to spend to take care of the building. You need to keep proper maintenance of the walls, roof and all other external sides of the building. That is the minimum you can do. In addition, you should pay attention to landscape and plant colorful plants and flowers with attractive smell that attracts not only bees, but clients as well!