Solar Newsletter
Policy
Development
Ontario Invests $650 M
in Renewable Energy Jobs
A new fund aimed at promoting and securing high-paying
renewable energy jobs for residents in the Canadian
Majority
of Americans Favor Solar on New Homes
According to a recent Roper survey commissioned by
Sharp Electronics Corporation, nearly 90 percent of Americans think that solar
electricity should be an option for all new home construction, up significantly
from one year ago (79 percent). Three-quarters of survey respondents perceive
solar power to be more important than ever, evidence that Americans recognize
the value of solar as a clean, renewable form of energy.
Schwarzenegger
Signs Legislation Fixing CSI "Flaw"
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed
AB 1714, which is designed to fix an unintended flaw in legislation passed last
year hindering the California Solar Initiative (CSI). The program, administered
by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), has been touted as the
best in the country. But issues with Time of Use (TOU) rates have slowed
applications for residential solar systems significantly.
Solar
Bill Passes California Assembly
Yesterday, June 6, the California General Assembly
approved the Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007 (AB 1470), which
would create a $250 million ten-year program to provide consumer rebates for
solar water heating systems, essentially the nation's largest solar water
heating program.
Rhone-Alps
& the Future of Solar PV in France
Near the French
Alps in the southeast corner of the country's hexagonal borders, the Rhone-Alps
region has long been established as France's center for nanotechnology and
electronics research. Meanwhile, the region has quietly become a leader in
solar energy research, production and applications.
DOE to Provide Nearly
$60 M for Solar Energy Research
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W.
Bodman announced yesterday that DOE will make available nearly $60 million to
increase the use of solar power across the country.
New Mexico Invests $10
M in Advent Solar
New Mexico-based Advent Solar, a company that develops
advanced technology solar cells and modules.
The Irony of U.S. and
UK Renewable Policies
by Craig Morris, Petite Planete… When Georg Schuerer was looking for a retirement investment, he chose
solar energy: "It gave me an 8.8% return last year. What bank offers
that?"
Financing
Solar Stocks:
Factoring in the Boom & Bust Cycle When Investing
Solar stocks have a bright future, a very bright
future. But investors have to understand a number of things about the current
stock market -- and solar stocks in particular…
REFF: Investment
Trends & the Global Renewables Market
Despite its government's slow action on the issue of
climate change, the
Solar
Industry News
Kyocera to Build New,
Large Scale Manufacturing Facility for Solar Modules in Tijuana, Mexico
Kyocera today announced that it will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on
Centex Homes Offers
Sharp Solar Energy Systems in New Home Development in Naples, Florida
Centex Homes will offer solar energy systems from
Sharp, the world's leading provider of solar cells, on 89 homes in The Quarry,
a new community north of
Satellite Housing
Completes Its First Solar Affordable Housing Development
Satellite Housing, Inc. completed its first solar
power installation for Acalanes Court, a 17-unit affordable housing development
in Walnut Creek, California, utilizing Borrego Solar's Berkeley team. The 35 kW
photovoltaic system services the building's common utility load, producing
approximately 4200 kWh of electricity per month.
PV Powered Announces
Web-based Performance Monitoring for Solar Power Systems
PV Powered, a leader in solar power generation
technology, today announced the availability of a new tool to help owners
monitor and evaluate the performance of their photovoltaic (PV) power systems.
The PVM1010 data monitoring system provides owners with current and historical
data, allowing them to easily see how their PV system is performing and helping
them ensure that they are achieving the maximum energy harvest for their PV
investment.
Open Energy Corp. (OTCBB: OEGY) today announced that
it has received a purchase order from Premiere Power Renewable Energy, Inc.,
for a photovoltaic roof valued at $972,000 for installation on the new
Bardessono Inn in Napa Valley, California. The property is being built by MTM
Management, LLC, one of the leading developers of premier destination resorts
in
Signet
Solar Plans Thin-Film Solar Module Manufacturing in India
Signet Solar announced plans to establish thin-film
solar module manufacturing capabilities in India, which follows on the heels of
a previous announcement last month of the company's plans for a similar plant
in Dresden, Germany.
SCHOTT
Supplies 61% of Nevada Solar One's Solar Receivers
SCHOTT announced that with the connection of the
Nevada Solar One power plant to the grid last week, its solar receivers
officially began collecting solar radiation needed to generate clean energy for
ICP Solar Technologies
and JC Whitney partner in launch of mobile solar products
Solarpowergetics
Becomes Distributor of Solar Modules for Wuxi Shangpin Solar
Solarpowergetics Inc. (SPG) announced today that it
has reached an agreement to distribute crystalline silicon solar cells, modules
and dual glass solar modules on behalf of Wuxi Shangpin Solar Energy &
Technology Company (
Solar Electricity with 10-year Guarantee
SunTechnics is offering commercial and residential
solar power customers an energy performance guarantee that ensures optimal
return on investment. This unique energy performance guarantee included in the
final system price assures commercial and residential solar customers the
specified kWh energy output for 10 years. The SunTechnics performance guarantee
is the only one in the industry offering monetary compensation regardless of
system size and kind of installation.
SV Solar Gains $10.2 M
in Funding & Acquires NuEdison
Silicon Valley (SV) Solar completed its Series A funding round totaling $10.2 million and completed it
acquisition of NuEdison, a solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer based in
Evergreen Announces
More Powerful Solar Panel
Evergreen Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESLR), a leading manufacturer
of solar power products with its proprietary String Ribbon™ wafer technology,
today unveiled its latest and most powerful PV panel. The new 195W model, part
of Evergreen's Spruce Line™ of PV panels, was unveiled at Intersolar 2007
(Booth F4.1.31, Hall 4), the world's largest solar industry exhibition in
Freiburg, Germany.
SANYO Develops HIT
Solar Cells with World's Highest Energy Conversion Efficiency of 22%
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO) announced today that
it has broken its own record for the world's highest energy conversion
efficiency in practical size (100 cm2 or more) crystalline
silicon-type solar cells, achieving a efficiency of 22% (until now 21.8%) at a
research level for its proprietary HIT solar photovoltaic cells.
Conergy expands
Canadian operations with new subsidiary in Ontario
Today Conergy announced the opening of its
Evergreen's New Solar
PV Panel Has Small Carbon Footprint
Evergreen Solar, Inc. just unveiled the new 195W
model, part of Evergreen's Spruce Line of photovoltaic (PV) panels, unveiled at
Intersolar 2007, the international solar exhibition currently under way in
Freiburg, Germany
SCHOTT Solar Expands
PV Production in Czech Republic
SCHOTT Solar GmbH has announced it will be quadrupling
its production capacities by 2010, beginning with an initial investment of Euro
100 million over the next six months.
Conergy presents the
first modules produced at its new solar factory in Frankfurt (Oder)
Hamburg-based company Conergy AG presented the first
high-performance solar modules to roll off its own production line in
SCHOTT Solar closes
the gap to the global leaders
SCHOTT Solar GmbH is seeking to strengthen its
position as one of the world's technology and market leaders in the field of
Photovoltaics. To achieve this, the company will be quadrupling its production
capacities by 2010. SCHOTT Solar GmbH will be investing 100 million euros over
the course of the next six months alone.
Oerlikon Solar Extends Thin Film Silicon Technology
Oerlikon Solar, global supplier of field-proven thin
film production equipment, has introduced its transparent conductive oxide
(TCO) 1200 coating plant to be built at ersol Thin Film GmbH in
Xantrex launches
next-generation, battery-based solar power system
Xantrex Technology Inc. (TSX:XTX) today announced the
launch of the Xantrex XW System, the first fully-integrated, battery-based
system, designed for residential and commercial solar and backup power
applications. Engineered using a complete systems approach, Xantrex has
designed the XW System to stand out from its competition, with a reliable,
clean, compact design and integrated balance-of-systems components.
New
Projects
Acciona
Connects 64 MW Solar Thermal Plant to Nevada Grid
Acciona Solar Power announced that its Nevada Solar
One project, a 64-megawatt (MW) solar thermal plant built over the course of 16
months, officially began supplying power to the Nevada Power grid this week.
Castle
& Cooke to Build 1.5 MW Solar Farm on Lana'i, Hawaii
Castle & Cooke, Inc. signed a contract through its
subsidiary, Lanai Sustainability Research, LLC, to build the largest solar
photovoltaic (PV) farm in
Akeena
Completes $2.2 M Military Solar Power Installation in California
Twelve months ago, Google’s energy usage was through
the roof. Now, thanks to a new solar electric system, the Company’s energy is on the roof. Showing
the power of teamwork, solar electric system design and engineering firm Blue
Oak Energy partnered with Google’s solar integrator, EI Solutions to create a
customized solar electric system at the Googleplex, the Company’s headquarters
in
Google Installs Sharp
Solar Electricity System, the Largest Commercial System in the U.S. to Date
Sharp, the world's leading provider of solar cells,
has provided solar modules for the largest commercial solar electricity system
in the
Copeland Creek
Affordable Senior Apartment Homes Re-opens with Remodeled Facilities and Solar
Energy
Copeland Creek Affordable Senior Apartment Homes
reopened its doors with newly remodeled facilities and environmentally friendly
solar energy systems. The new multi-family affordable housing complex features
solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on each of its residential buildings and
laundry rooms, totaling 86 kW in size, as well as solar hot water systems with
high-efficiency on-demand water heaters, and solar pool collectors. The solar
electric (PV) systems were designed and installed by SPG Solar, Inc. of
Caltrans Unveils Solar
Photovoltaic Power Plant
SunTechnics to build
the third largest solar farm on the US West Coast at SSJID
The 1.9 MW solar
installation will make
Featured
Events
SOLAR 2007
SOLAR 2007 will
feature the following: 36th Annual ASES Annual Conference 32nd Annual National
Passive Solar Conference 2nd Annual Policy, Advocacy and Marketing Conference
Green Energy Ohio Annual Meeting
Start date:
Green Homes and Sustainable Communities 2007: The
Annual Symposium on Green Affordable Housing & Community Development
Participate in the only annual national affordable
housing and community development symposium on the industry's critical role in
advancing sustainable development.
Start date: