Category: Solar

Group Urges Texas to Promote More Solar Power Use

With a surplus of both land and sunshine, Texas could easily be the nation’s leader in solar power generation but needs more help from state leaders, advocates said Wednesday. A coalition of environmentalists, politicians and more than 80 businesses held events around the state to release a letter urging Gov. Rick Perry and the Texas… Read more »

Linde achieves growth, invests in innovation despite over-capacity in PV industry

Defying the impact of a depressed economy on market movements, the Linde Gases Division of The Linde Group closed 2009 with more than 6GWp (Gigawatt peak) of production capacity across its global photovoltaic (PV) customer base. Linde demonstrated increased market traction securing multiple new contract wins and renewals with leading thin-film and crystalline manufacturers worldwide… Read more »

Austin Energy Revamps Solar Incentive Program

Austin Energy has devised a new approach for incentivizing solar power among its commercial, multifamily, and non-profit customers. The municipal electric utility said the new approach saves $2.4 million over the life of the program compared to the old way of administering the program for those customers. Rather than provide an upfront rebate on the… Read more »

Energy Conversion Devices Reports Financial Results for Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2010

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) (Nasdaq: ENER), the leading global manufacturer of thin-film flexible solar laminate products for the building-integrated and commercial rooftop markets, today announced financial results for the second quarter of its fiscal year 2010. Total consolidated revenues for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 were $52.9 million compared to $103.1 million in… Read more »

Wind, solar groups push US renewable energy standard

* Stimulus funds powered most renewables to expand in 2009 * Energy groups stress domestic job creation * Call for federal energy standard, extended tax credits By Deborah Zabarenko, Environment Correspondent WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Reuters) – U.S. industry executives from the wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal and biomass sectors pushed on Tuesday for a federal renewable… Read more »

New Jersey Congressmen Push Federal Solar Energy Bill

A new bill modeled in part on successful solar energy programs in New Jersey and California was introduced in Congress last week with support from both of the Garden State’s Senators and U.S. Rep. Albio Sires. The bill – which has the somewhat clunky title of the 10 Million Solar Roofs and 10 Million Gallons… Read more »

Energy Storage Project Aims to Extend Utility of Solar Power

International Battery, a U.S. manufacturer and developer of large-format lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, is partnering with system integrator HNU Energy to assess the effectiveness of storing solar energy using new, more-efficient battery technology. If successful, the solar power generation and energy storage project in Maui, Hawaii, could pave the way for small businesses and others that… Read more »

Vestas Lowers Forecast as Developers Cut Orders on Financing

Vestas Wind Systems A/S, the world’s biggest maker of wind turbines, lowered its full-year forecast after wind park developers delayed or canceled orders because of a lack of financing. Vestas expects 2010 sales of 7 billion euros ($9.6 billion), compared with a previous range of 7 billion to 8 billion euros, the Randers, Denmark-based company… Read more »

Nuclear giant Areva buys solar company Ausra

The world’s largest nuclear plant builder, Areva SA, is diversifying into solar power with the aim of becoming an industry leader, as it acquires U.S.-based solar thermal player Ausra, the company said on Monday.”This market is set to have 20 gigawatts by the year 2020. Areva has an objective to be a world leader in… Read more »

Arab states may become solar energy exporters

Massive renewable energy projects undertaken by the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries could turn them into solar energy exporters along with their large hydrocarbon exports, according to a veteran Arab energy analyst. “After oil, Arab countries could start exporting solar energy,” said Nicolas Sarkis, Director of the Paris-based Arab Petroleum Research Centre (APRC), which… Read more »

Arava Power gets deals for 15 mid-size solar fields

Israeli solar energy developer Arava Power said on Sunday it signed long-term contracts with 15 agricultural cooperatives to build mid-size solar fields at an investment of 2 billion shekels ($533 million). The fields will produce a total of 100 megawatts of solar energy using photovoltaics, for an average of 6.5 megawatts per field. Arava said… Read more »

The Cleantech Revolution Largest Market Opportunity In The History Of The Planet

A special three-part series in last week’s San Jose Mercury News, entitled “The Cleantech Revolution,” highlighted the enormous economic opportunity in the clean-tech sector and warned that the U.S. is quickly falling behind while Asia seeks to gain global market dominance.In its analysis of the clean technology market, the Mercury’s rhetoric is grand and its… Read more »

Umwelt-Sonne-Energie Completes 1.9 MWp Solyndra Panel Project in Belgium

Solyndra, Inc., a manufacturer of innovative cylindrical photovoltaic (PV) systems for commercial rooftops, today announced that Umwelt-Sonne-Energie GmbH (USE Projects), an authorized reseller, has completed the largest collective Solyndra project to date. The project consists of 1.9 MWp of generation capability installed on 10 rooftop sites in Belgium owned by a large international food retailer…. Read more »

Fidelis Energy to Attend PV & Solar India Expo in Mumbai

Fidelis Energy Inc. (PINKSHEETS: FDEI) (“Fidelis” or the “Company”) wishes to advise that Company management will be in attendance at the 1st International Conference and Exhibition on Photovoltaics, Solar, Thermal, Solar Architecture, Equipment, Materials and Systems at the World Trade Centre, Mumbai, India, during March 4-6, 2010. Fidelis Energy executives will meet to discuss the… Read more »

7,000 Watt Solar Installation provides green and economic solutions for local resident

Hamlin Energy Solutions, a division of Hamlin Companies, furnished and installed 52 Uni-Solar 136 photovoltaic panels for a historical property, Morey Residence, in Durham, NC. This 7,000 watt solar power rooftop system is estimated to generate approximately 10,000 kilowatt hours of renewable energy each year, and 200 carbon free megawatt hours over 20 years. Rajendra… Read more »

Intel expanding solar installations

Intel has contracted for new solar electric installations at its sites in Oregon, Arizona, California and New Mexico. The new installations will generate approximately 2.5 megawatts of clean solar energy. About 800 kilowatts of the total will be generated at Intel in Oregon, adding to a 100 kilowatt electric photovoltaic system at Intel’s Jones Farm… Read more »

Spanish company plans New Mexico solar plant

A Spanish company plans to invest $1 billion to build a large solar energy production plant in New Mexico. Gov. Bill Richardson joined Wednesday with executives of GA-Solar and its parent company, Gestamp Corp., to announce the photovoltaic solar plant. It will cover 2,500 acres near Santa Rosa in eastern New Mexico. The plant will… Read more »

N.Y. Gov. Paterson at ESF to Announce Solar Energy Initiative

N.Y. Gov. David Paterson visited SUNY-ESF today (Jan. 27, 2010) to announce a major energy initiative that would lead to the installation of up to 100 megawatts of solar photovoltaic systems at public buildings throughout the state. Paterson said the photovoltaic arrays would be installed in schools and government buildings by 2014, increasing by five… Read more »

Ted Turner, utility CEO set sights on the sun

When it comes to their positions on energy and the environment, Ted Turner and Southern Co. Chief Executive David Ratcliffe seem as compatible as Felix and Oscar of “Odd Couple” fame. The latter shared an apartment, though; the media mogul and the utility executive are going into the solar energy business together. On Tuesday Turner… Read more »

Intel’s Folsom campus is set to go solar

Intel Corp.’s Folsom campus is targeted to have the largest of eight new solar power systems the company plans to install in four states. Intel announced Monday that it has new contracts for generating approximately 2.5 megawatts of solar energy at new solar power projects in California, Oregon, Arizona, and New Mexico.Intel spokesman Mark Pettinger… Read more »

Solar Spending in Germany May Suffer With Power Cuts

Q-Cells SE, Solarworld AG and competing solar-energy companies face a dimmer outlook for investment and jobs as the German government considers cutting subsidized power prices. Lower rates may reduce profit for panel makers and strip Germany of its title as the largest market for photovoltaic panels, said Karl Kuhlmann, chief executive officer of S.A.G. Solarstrom… Read more »

Solar energy initiative launched

The King Abdulaziz City of Science and Technology (KACST) on Sunday launched a major national initiative to produce desalinated water and electricity at a much cheaper rate – less than a riyal for a cubic meter of water and 30 halalas per kilowatt/hour. Prince Turki bin Saud bin Muhammad, vice president of KACST for research… Read more »

DEK and Heller announce state-of-the-art drying technology for solar cell metallization

DEK Solar and Heller Industries have unveiled the results of a recent collaboration; a pioneering drying system that enhances the state-of-the-art PV3000 metallization line even further. The alliance between the market-leading screen printing and thermal technology specialists has enabled a significant breakthrough in solar cell production, incorporating precise thermal control, improved VOC management and reduced… Read more »

Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc. Partners With a Major Funding Source

Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc. (OTCBB: SNRY), executing on a grass roots campaign, “RENEW THE NATION,” to help redeploy a portion of the U.S. work force and focus on reducing the world’s dependence on fossil fuels by selling solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) technologies, today announced the signing of a Project Funding Agreement with a financial… Read more »

BrightView Unveils In-line Process Control and Optimization Tool for Thin-Film Solar Cell Manufacturing

BrightView Systems today unveiled the InSight M Series, the world’s first in-line process control and optimization tool developed specifically toaddress the challenges faced by thin-film solar cell manufacturers. The Wide Area Metrology (WAM) system provides continuous monitoring and whole-panel mapping of critical material and process parameters at full production throughput and for 100% of manufactured… Read more »

Stimulus funds for solar energy at $10M

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced $10 million in federal stimulus funds for solar-energy installations. The funding pays for seven solar-energy companies to install solar photovoltaic systems (PV) on homes and businesses statewide. The companies include Alteris Renewables, Inc. in Ballston Spa; Hudson Valley Clean Energy, Inc. in Rhinebeck, Global Resource… Read more »

Fred Clark: Clean energy grows green jobs in state

While the housing market begins what will likely be a long, slow, recovery, homeowners looking to make investments in energy efficiency are providing one of the few bright spots for local contractors. On January 30, for example, an array of area businesses will fill the basement of the West Square Building during Sustain Sauk County’s… Read more »

Oerlikon Solar on Track to Drive Down Cost by 30% in 2010

Oerlikon Solar today announced it will be presenting its technology at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. Oerlikon Solar leads the thin film silicon solar equipment sector with nearly half a gigawatt of production equipment ramped globally and more than 1 million panels produced by its customers to date. With the company’s Micromorph… Read more »

German Solar Industry Could Face Subsidy Cuts Close To 30% Sources

Germany’s photovoltaic-solar-energy industry faces a reduction in state subsidies that could be close to 30%, people familiar with the matter said Thursday. Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen next week plans to present a proposal that foresees cutting solar subsidies by a double-digit percentage, the people within the industry told Dow Jones newsletter Energy Daily. The cuts… Read more »

Gazoo Energy Group, Inc. Looks to Add Solar Energy to the Company’s Product Line

Gazoo Energy Group (OTCBB:GAZU) (www.GazooEnergyGroup.com) announced today that it has entered into discussions with several solar energy companies regarding new investment opportunities. Gazoo Energy Group is exploring the potential for extensive growth in advancing technologies capable of maximizing energy production, while utilizing smaller footprints of land. The company also believes it can maximize the land… Read more »

Solar energy in Oklahoma could have hot future

In the heat of an Oklahoma summer, it often seems like the sun never stops shining. That is likely the reason Oklahoma is among the states with the highest potential for harnessing solar energy.The same is true for wind, which is why western Oklahoma is awash with towering turbines, but it’s hard to find signs… Read more »

Major Climate and Energy Bill This Year? Don’t Bet On It

It wasn’t that long ago when candidate Obama wooed us with pledges to get the country on track with an aggressive renewable energy program and serious carbon emissions controls. Times have changed. Now, we don’t think anyone really expects to see an extensive climate and energy bill from Congress this year. At best, advocates are… Read more »

Phoenix Solar AG founds subsidiary in Oman

Phoenix Solar AG, a leading photovoltaic system integrator listed on the TecDAX, has founded Phoenix Solar L.L.C. in Muscat which is the capital city of the Sultanate of Oman. Phoenix Solar AG holds 70 percent and Silver Circle Overseas L.L.C. (SCO), its local partner in Oman, 30 percent in Phoenix Solar L.L.C. The newly founded… Read more »