CEPS AS, the Czech electricity-grid operator, said the pace of solar-power investment risks overloading the network and driving up prices for consumers. Output from solar panels may overwhelm the grid by 2011 and plants may need to be temporarily disconnected to prevent blackouts, CEPS Chief Executive Officer Petr Zeman said today. Total solar capacity may… Read more »
SANYO is pleased to announce that it will showcase its HIT Solar Technology at the SOLAR HUB at this year’s Eco Build show, taking place in London between 2nd and 4th March, 2010. The SOLAR HUB is one of 4 feature points at this year’s Eco Build. These feature points are designed to educate visitors… Read more »
Linde Nippon Sanso (LNS), a company of The Linde Group, and Bosch Solar Energy, have announced an extension of their collaboration at Bosch’s new crystalline Si solar cell manufacturing site in Arnstadt, Germany. Under the new agreement, LNS will supply silane and ammonia gas, both critical materials in the fabrication of Bosch’s high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) cells. Bosch currently operates three… Read more »
French energy company Areva (best known for its nuclear power business) has purchased solar thermal power company Ausra – yet another example of a promising Australian technology company ending up with foreign ownership. One possible positive interpretation of the news is that Areva are losing faith in the oft-predicted but unrealised “nuclear renaissance” and now… Read more »
Although Grand Canyon hikers may believe that the Grand Canyon has been solar-powered for eons, the fact is the Grand Canyon National Park has “gone solar” just recently. Eighty-four photovoltaic solar panels are now operational on the Grand Canyon Visitor Center located at the Canyon View Information Plaza near the south rim. Located both on… Read more »
US solar panel maker SunPower Corporation (SunPower) yesterday agreed to acquire SunRay Renewable Energy (SunRay), a leading European solar power firm for approximately $277 million, aiming at expanding its activities in Europe and the Middle East. SunPower will acquire SunRay from its shareholders, which include its management and Denham Capital, a leading global private equity… Read more »
Akeena Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:AKNS), a leading installer of solar power systems and designer of AC solar panels, today announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. “2009 was a turning point for Akeena Solar as we diversified our revenue streams by launching the distribution sales of Andalay AC solar panels. Our… Read more »
DEK Solar is reflecting on an extremely positive Q4, having sold a record number of photovoltaic metallization lines in China. Most recently, the solar screen printing specialist completed a contract to supply a high-profile turnkey provider in the region with a large number of new metallization lines. DEK Solar’s current success in China is being… Read more »
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 »
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 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, 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 »
* 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 »
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 »
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 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 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 »
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 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 »
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. 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 »
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 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 »
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 »
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 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. (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 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 »
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 »
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 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 »