Our latest issue of Solar Today contains thought-provoking, challenging articles on the role of minerals in the energy transition. It is now available for members through our online portal. 

Here is a preview of the table of contents:

What Will It Take to Have a Sustainable Mineral Supply Chain?
Kat Friedrich, editor in chief of Solar Today at ASES

Six Solutions to Battery Mineral Challenges
Amory B. Lovins, co-founder and chairman emeritus of RMI and adjunct professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University

Battery Minerals: Is the Energy Transition Dependent on the DRC's Cobalt?
Akua Debrah, consultant at Sustainable Development Strategies Group (SDSG), and Luke Danielson, president of SDSG

Copper Crisis: Inequality and Conflict Put Global Decarbonization at Risk
Brian Wagenaar, former research fellow at SDSG

Deserts, Water and Lithium: Indigenous Rights in the Energy Transition
Veronica Morelli, leader of SDSG's work in the area of lithium supply, and Luke Danielson, president of SDSG

The Biggest Piece of the Puzzle: Aluminum and the Energy Transition
Chris Medary, MEM, former research fellow at SDSG

When Communities Oppose Large Solar and Wind Installations
Joel B Stronberg, president of The JBS Group/Civil Notion

Flouting Conventional Wisdom: Homes Conditioned Entirely by Ambient Energy
M Keith Sharp, ScD, PE, emeritus professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Louisville

High-Altitude Wind Turbines: A Promising Solution for a Cleaner Future
Giannis Michailidis, student of agricultural science at the Agricultural University of Athens

Generating Virtually Unlimited Solar Power Year-Round
Maurice White, founder of Stirling Technology Company (renamed Infinia and now Qnergy)

Bringing Solar to Low-Wealth Neighborhoods
Ruth Amundsen, co-founder of NORFOLK SOLAR LIMITED, LLC and founder of Norfolk Solar Qualified Opportunity Zone Fund, and Alden Cleanthes, co-founder of Norfolk Solar, LLC

United States Solar Data Tables
Julia McVeigh, data analyst and technical divisions intern at ASES

Join Us for the 2023 National Solar Tour
Lauren Reddington, former ASES Programs/National Solar Tour Director

Member Spotlight
Ellen Ross, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) clean energy innovator fellow, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

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Kat Friedrich
Editor in Chief
American Solar Energy Society
Monona WI
------------------------------

There seems to aways be a challange when attempting a balance between the give and take of natural resources for the things we humans build around ourselves, and as you have brought out Kat, the problems of mining these things from our planet creates a lot of problems, but when you think about all the stuff that just doesn't get recycled, and all the junk that people create otherwise as the waste in America is almost inconceivable as most ends up in landfills.  Makes one wonder that if human priorities could be advanced towards the creation of  totally clean products that are actually needed, a lot of these problems would simply vanish.   

------------------------------
Timothy Mcbride
CEO/Owner
Sol-Era R & D
------------------------------

Timothy, 
Recycling and efficiency are important parts of the solution. Thanks for your comment!
Best,
Kat

------------------------------
Kat Friedrich
Editor in Chief
American Solar Energy Society
Monona WI
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-01-2023 03:01 AM
From: Timothy Mcbride
Subject: Read our new issue of Solar Today on the theme "minerals challenges and solutions"

There seems to aways be a challange when attempting a balance between the give and take of natural resources for the things we humans build around ourselves, and as you have brought out Kat, the problems of mining these things from our planet creates a lot of problems, but when you think about all the stuff that just doesn't get recycled, and all the junk that people create otherwise as the waste in America is almost inconceivable as most ends up in landfills.  Makes one wonder that if human priorities could be advanced towards the creation of  totally clean products that are actually needed, a lot of these problems would simply vanish.   

------------------------------
Timothy Mcbride
CEO/Owner
Sol-Era R & D
------------------------------

I think you will find (Educated guess) that as Battery tech advances, the resources enabled for battery creation at higher energy levels will also be resources that are easier to extract and recycle (Sulfur with Lithium instead of "rarer" earths). The shift towards lighter weight moves away from Iron towards high tech creations like composites, Aerogel and Graphene, or other discoveries that might be found in a place like:

"Eureka".

------------------------------
william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
------------------------------

Bill, this is very interesting. What do you mean by "Eureka"? Are you referring to moments of scientific discovery?

------------------------------
Kat Friedrich
Editor in Chief
American Solar Energy Society
Monona WI
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-02-2023 08:44 AM
From: william fitch
Subject: Read our new issue of Solar Today on the theme "minerals challenges and solutions"

I think you will find (Educated guess) that as Battery tech advances, the resources enabled for battery creation at higher energy levels will also be resources that are easier to extract and recycle (Sulfur with Lithium instead of "rarer" earths). The shift towards lighter weight moves away from Iron towards high tech creations like composites, Aerogel and Graphene, or other discoveries that might be found in a place like:

"Eureka".

------------------------------
william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
------------------------------

Sorry. That's my fault. I assume everyone has the same affinity level for Hollywood's products as me. 

"Eureka" was a sci-fi series back in 2006-2012. The story line was that the DOD got together a bunch of Science geniuses and put them in a town called Eureka, where they were given everything they wanted to invent anything they wanted. 

Entertaining. A place where Aerogel and Graphene and room temp super conductors could find their way to life... if you wish...

Its on Prime if you want to give it an electron spin....lol....

------------------------------
william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-03-2023 12:12 PM
From: Kat Friedrich
Subject: Read our new issue of Solar Today on the theme "minerals challenges and solutions"

Bill, this is very interesting. What do you mean by "Eureka"? Are you referring to moments of scientific discovery?

------------------------------
Kat Friedrich
Editor in Chief
American Solar Energy Society
Monona WI
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 10-02-2023 08:44 AM
From: william fitch
Subject: Read our new issue of Solar Today on the theme "minerals challenges and solutions"

I think you will find (Educated guess) that as Battery tech advances, the resources enabled for battery creation at higher energy levels will also be resources that are easier to extract and recycle (Sulfur with Lithium instead of "rarer" earths). The shift towards lighter weight moves away from Iron towards high tech creations like composites, Aerogel and Graphene, or other discoveries that might be found in a place like:

"Eureka".

------------------------------
william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com

That's amusing, Bill. I enjoy science fiction too, but this example is new to me. Thanks for the recommendation. 

------------------------------
Kat Friedrich
Editor in Chief
American Solar Energy Society
Monona WI
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-03-2023 01:16 PM
From: william fitch
Subject: Read our new issue of Solar Today on the theme "minerals challenges and solutions"

Sorry. That's my fault. I assume everyone has the same affinity level for Hollywood's products as me. 

"Eureka" was a sci-fi series back in 2006-2012. The story line was that the DOD got together a bunch of Science geniuses and put them in a town called Eureka, where they were given everything they wanted to invent anything they wanted. 

Entertaining. A place where Aerogel and Graphene and room temp super conductors could find their way to life... if you wish...

Its on Prime if you want to give it an electron spin....lol....

------------------------------
william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 10-03-2023 12:12 PM
From: Kat Friedrich
Subject: Read our new issue of Solar Today on the theme "minerals challenges and solutions"

Bill, this is very interesting. What do you mean by "Eureka"? Are you referring to moments of scientific discovery?

------------------------------
Kat Friedrich
Editor in Chief
American Solar Energy Society
Monona WI


Original Message:
Sent: 10-02-2023 08:44 AM
From: william fitch
Subject: Read our new issue of Solar Today on the theme "minerals challenges and solutions"

I think you will find (Educated guess) that as Battery tech advances, the resources enabled for battery creation at higher energy levels will also be resources that are easier to extract and recycle (Sulfur with Lithium instead of "rarer" earths). The shift towards lighter weight moves away from Iron towards high tech creations like composites, Aerogel and Graphene, or other discoveries that might be found in a place like:

"Eureka".

------------------------------
william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com