Solar Newsletter                                                  

December 2007

 

Policy Development

EXPERTS HEADING DOWN UNDER FOR WORLD SOLAR CONGRESS
Adelaide, 1 December 2007. The planet's leading experts in renewable energy will gather in Australia from 17-21 February, 2008, for the 3rd International Solar Cities Congress. Over 90 speakers from more than 30 countries will visit Adelaide in South Australia to share and examine the latest thinking in sustainable options for our future.

Are Feed-in Tariffs a Possibility in California?

by Paul Gipe

In a dramatic about face from previous policy, the California Energy Commission is expected today to recommend that the state adopt feed-in tariffs to spur renewable energy development.

Continental Grid Vision Needed

by Martin Rosenberg, EnergyBiz Magazine

Imagine no electricity existed in the United States. Suddenly, a lab discovers the utility of coursing electrons, and the age of electricity is launched. Assume we immediately learned everything we now know about how to generate electricity using the ...

For German Homeowners, Renewable Energy is No Longer a Choice

by Jane Burgermeister

All new homes built in Germany from January 1st 2009 will be required to install renewable energy heating systems under a new law called the Renewable Energies Heating Law (Erneubare-Energien-Warmegesetz).

Selling Solar Energy Without Incentives

by James A. "Hoss" Boyd

In 1985, I got out of the Air Force to make my fortune in commercial real estate and real estate limited partnerships. Unfortunately, because the tax laws changed drastically shortly…

CSP as Scalable Energy Alternative

A new study from Emerging Energy Research says that Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is in the middle of a renaissance. According to the study, in areas including Spain and the Southwestern U.S., solar CSP is the fastest growing utility-scale renewable energy alternative after wind power, with up to $20 billion expected to be invested in solar CSP over the next five years.

First Nations Power-Up

At the recent Independent Power Producers (IPP) of British Columbia (BC) annual conference, approximately 500 attendees participated in a range of presentations and discussions relevant to the growing private power generation industry in the province. One issue of interest to many was the proper consultation with the province's aboriginal governments. Hundreds of different groups of native peoples, known as First Nations, live throughout BC, with most of them tracing their heritage back two to three thousand years.

FPL and NASA Explore Renewable Energy

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and National Aeronautic and Space Administration's Kennedy Space Center (NASA-KSC) are teaming up to explore development of renewable energy projects. Together they hope to advance and deploy the use of large scale solar technology in Florida as early as 2008.

Massachusetts Announces Commonwealth Solar Program

The Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources announced the state's new Commonwealth Solar program designed to encourage the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) power by offering rebates that reduce the cost of solar panels and installation. The new program, which makes use of existing renewable energy funds, is expected to result in the installation of more than 27 megawatts of solar power capacity over the next four years.

Introducing the Solar Tree

The streets of Europe could soon be lit by solar energy due to the fact that a solar tree prototype recently passed a key test phase. The solar trees went on display for four weeks in October on a busy street — the Ringstrasse — in Vienna, Austria.  They were able to provide enough light during the night-time even when the sun did not show for as much as four days in a row.

How to Land a Job in the Solar Industry: Upstream vs. Downstream

A recently released report predicts that solar photovoltaic companies will see a continued steep increase in revenues from $15.6 billion last year to $69.3 billion nine years from now. Estimates from other analysts and associations suggest that this is a conservative number and claim the increase in revenues generated will be even greater than anticipated.

Top Stories of 2007

Each year, things seem to get more exciting for the renewable energy industries, and 2007 was no exception.

 

Municipal Development

Ridgefield Earns Designation as Connecticut Clean Energy Communityand Earns Solar Array

Ridgefield has joined a growing list of municipalities in the state that have become "Connecticut Clean Energy Communities." Ridgefield earned this designation by committing to the purchase of 20% clean energy by the year 2010, by signing up nearly 200 residents as clean energy customers, and by purchasing renewable energy certificates representing 3% of its electricity load for municipal buildings from Community Energy. As a result of this commitment to clean energy, Ridgefield has earned a $20,000 solar energy array to be installed on the municipal building of its choice.

Common Ground High School Celebrates Launch of Solar Energy Curriculum for Teachers; Dedicates Solar Installation

Common Ground High School of New Haven today hosted the launch of a solar energy curriculum program for teachers. Designed by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), Learning for Clean Energy Innovation (LCEI) will focus initially on solar energy education and will later be expanded to cover fuel cell and wind energy. LCEI professional development sessions will incorporate a specially designed curriculum aligned with the Connecticut Department of Education's Science Frameworks, and will be offered to 9th-grade teachers from the 61 towns in the state who are participating in the 20% by 2010 Campaign.

Renewable Energy Powers Italian Town and Its Economy

Varese, Italy has added 140 jobs in the past ten years. That's pretty good for a town with a population of only 2,400. The town, which is located in Liguria in the northern part of Italy, is experiencing an economic boom fueled by renewable energy.

SPI to Power 10 Schools in Santa Rosa City  

Solar Power, Inc. (SPI), and its joint venture partner Solar Power Integrators, have received approval from the Santa Rosa City School District Board of Directors to install photovoltaic solar electric systems at 10 of the district's schools, a project worth approximately $23 million.

 

Financing

What About Investing in Solar PV Stocks?

Why haven't there been many stories on what a great investment solar PV has been this year? For example, First Solar (FSLR), a maker of solar panels has gone up over 2000% so far ...

Recurrent Energy Closes $200 Million Staged Solar Project Fund with Morgan Stanley

Recurrent Energy, a solar services company, today announced the close of a $200 million staged solar project fund with Morgan Stanley. The fund represents a commitment by Morgan Stanley to provide financing for $100mm of Recurrent Energy's solar electric power projects in 2008 and an additional $100mm in 2009.

Najafi Invests $100 Million in Start-Up

Najafi Companies, LLC announced that it will provide $100 million to its new start-up portfolio company, Energy Capital Investments, LLC, as investment capital for a range of energy projects including solar, geothermal, biomass and other renewable energy technologies.

 

Utilities

Southwest Service Providers Request Solar Project

The Southwest Energy Service Provider's Consortium for Solar Development has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a utility-scale concentrating solar power plant. The plant, which would be owned by a third-party with consortium members each signing long-term power purchase agreements, will be expected to produce 250 megawatts and be located in either Arizona or Nevada.

 

Solar Industry News

SCHOTT SOLAR POWERS UP THE SOLAR CELL
Alzenau, 10 December 2007. SCHOTT Solar reports that its PV cells are set to become more efficient thanks to a new surface structure, called ISO Texture; with the new surface structure the PV cells can achieve greater power density.

SunPower and Woongjin Energy Open New Ingot Factory

SunPower Corporation announced that Woongjin Energy Corp. (WJE), its joint venture with Woongjin Holdings Company Ltd., has opened a new 46,200-square-meter solar silicon ingot pulling factory. SunPower will purchase approximately $250 million of silicon ingots from the joint venture through a five-year supply agreement.

Blue Oak Energy Delivers Free Online PV Design Tool

The Blue Oak Energy "PV Selection Guide" allows a system designer to successfully match modules and inverters in multiple configurations.  This tool is unique and universal, allowing the user to view the results from pairing any inverter and solar module on the market in the United States.

EnerWorks Solar Energy Unit Wins Innovative Product & Technology Award

The Toronto Construction Association and Construct Canada 2007 Committee announced today that EnerWorks' new Solar Energy Unit (SEU) for commercial and industrial solar thermal applications has been awarded the Temple W. Harris Innovative Product and Technology Award (TIPTA). The award recognizes EnerWorks for the development of an innovative product which simplifies the engineering and contract work required for its installation.

EnerWorks solar thermal technology a part of energy-efficient, award-winning home

Ontario's "most outstanding production-built home" --according to the Ontario Home Builder Association --comes equipped with the EnerWorks solar water heating appliance, which includes solar collector panels and energy pack.

SCHOTT Reduces Cost and Silicon Needs with New Cell Coating

SCHOTT Solar announced today that its solar cells will be coated with a new texture that will increase efficiency, reduce the need for silicon and lower costs for its customers. According to the company, the product is raising efficiency by .3-.5% and reducing silicon by 5% per watt.

First Solar Acquires Turner Renewable Energy

First Solar, Inc announced that it has acquired Turner Renewable Energy, LLC for a purchase price of approximately $34.3 million paid in a combination of common stock of First Solar, Inc. as well as cash. The company will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of First Solar, Inc. under the name First Solar Electric, LLC.

groSolar Raises $10 million in Growth Equity Financing

groSolar, a national solar energy firm, announced today that it has secured $10 million in a Series B financing that will enable it to continue growing rapidly. NGP Energy Technology Partners, L.P. ("NGP ETP"), one of the premier energy technology private equity funds in the United States, led the investment round.

Power-One and Magnetek Form Strategic Alliance

Power-One, Inc. and Magnetek, Inc. jointly announced an agreement to promote and distribute commercial and residential solar along with small wind energy inverters.

EnerWorks supplies solar collectors for one of Illinois' largest solar thermal systems

One of the largest solar thermal systems in Illinois is now installed at William Fremd High School (Fremd) in Palatine. EnerWorks Inc., a leading North American developer and manufacturer of solar thermal systems, supplied the 100 solar collectors installed on the school's roof.

SunWize Technologies Completes Merger with GenSelf Corporation

SunWize Technologies, Inc. has completed its previously announced merger with GenSelf Corporation, headquartered in Irvine, California, allowing the two companies to leverage their respective talents to better serve the solar dealer market.

EMCORE to Supply Solar Systems in Canada

EMCORE Corporation announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding for the supply of 60 megawatts of solar power systems that are scheduled for deployment in Ontario, Canada over the next three years.

Solar Integrated Wins $4.3 Million Order

Solar Integrated Technologies, Inc. (SIT) a provider of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roofing systems, announced that it has won an order for $4.3 million to supply BIPV roofing systems to be installed on a new industrial complex in Girona, Spain.

Spire Corporation Renames Subsidiary to Capitalize on Fast-Growing Solar Concentrator Market

Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR), a global solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic modules worldwide, today announced that Bandwidth Semiconductor, Spire’s wholly owned subsidiary, will become Spire Semiconductor effective January 1, 2008. Bandwidth currently provides Spire with crystalline silicon solar-cell process technology and has re-entered the fast-growing, gallium arsenide (GaAs) concentrator solar cell market. This name change will better align Bandwidth with Spire’s overall solar industry focus.

Evergreen Solar Announces Polysilicon Agreement

Evergreen Solar, Inc. announced that it has signed a ten-year polysilicon supply agreement with Silicium de Provence S.A.S. with shipments beginning in mid 2010.

WorldWater Receives LOI for 3-MW Solar Farm

WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp. announced that the company has received a Letter of Intent (LOI) from Ingenium Energetica S.L. to construct a 3-megawatt (MW) solar farm in Aragon, Spain. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2008.

Nanosolar Ships First Commercial Panels

Nanosolar Inc. has shipped its first set of commercial panels to Beck Energy. The panels will be installed at a plant located on a former landfill owned by one of the largest waste management companies in Eastern Germany.

EPV SOLAR Signs 306-MW Contract

EPV SOLAR, Inc. (EPV) announced that it has entered into a long-term solar module supply agreement with unlimited energy GmbH. Under the terms of the contract, EPV SOLAR will supply 306 megawatts (MW) of amorphous silicon modules to unlimited energy for use in the development and build-out of several solar parks in Europe.

SunEdison Activates PV Plant for Xcel

SunEdison announced that the 8.22-megawatt Alamosa, Colo., photovoltaic (PV) solar plant was activated today, ahead of its scheduled completion date. According to the company it is the largest solar PV plant in the United States supporting substation loads for a major public utility.

ICP Solar Signs Supply Agreement with Shanghai Electric Solar Energy Corporation

MONTREAL, Dec 20, 2007 - ICP Solar Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: ICPR, FRANKFURT: K1U), a developer, manufacturer and marketer of solar cells and products, announced today it has signed a two year supply agreement with Shanghai Electric Solar Energy Co. Shanghai Electric is the single largest Chinese enterprise engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of mechanical and electrical equipment. The group's products cover more than ten industries ranging from Power Generation Equipment, Power Transmission and Distribution Equipment, Electromechanical integration equipment, Transport Equipment and Environmental Protection.

 

New Projects

PPM Offers Solar with No Upfront Cost

Pacific Power Management, LLC (PPM), announced that they have broken ground on the design and installation of a 1-megawatt solar electric system for Far West Rice, Inc. in Nelson, CA.

MBPV to Set Up India's Largest Grid Connected Solar Farm

Moser Baer Photo Voltaic (MBPV) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Rajasthan (India) for establishing a solar power project with an estimated generation capacity of 1-5 megawatts (MW).

altPOWER Completes PV System to Help Power the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Tishman Speyer Chairman and CEO Jerry Speyer were on the roof of 45 Rockefeller Center on Tuesday November 20th to celebrate the installation of a 61kW (70 kilowatt DC) solar-electric (PV) system designed and managed by altPOWER. Over the course of a year, the system will generate more than enough electricity to power all of the 30,000 LED lights on the tree that will be illuminated during 42 days this holiday season. The PV system will also offset over 2 million pounds of CO2 over its life-time which would have been created had the tree been powered by conventional fuel sources.

Mitsubishi Electric PV Modules Chosen for One Megawatt Solar Electric System

CYPRESS, Calif., December 10, 2007 - Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA, Inc. will provide photovoltaic (PV) panels for a one megawatt solar electric system at Far West Rice Mills in Nelson, Calif. When the system is completed it will generate all of the power for the mill's operations.

Solar Energy to Power Geothermal Plant

Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) and SPG Solar, announced that they will together to build a 1 megawatt (MW) single-axis solar tracking system that will provide renewable energy to an existing pump station that supplies the NCPA Geysers Geothermal Energy Plant.

BP Donates $1M in Solar Equipment for Capital Area Food Bank's New Home

BP America and the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) today announced a $1 million donation of BP Solar panels and other equipment that will make CAFB's proposed new facility a local showcase of the latest solar technology. The solar system, which will be capable of generating 121.8 kW of clean electricity, will save more than 20 percent of CAFB's annual electricity bill.

Mitsubishi Electric Solar Panels to Power San Francisco Food Bank

CYPRESS, Calif., December 12, 2007 - Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA, Inc. has been selected to provide photovoltaic (PV) panels for the San Francisco Food Bank's 55,000 sq.-ft. warehouse. The San Francisco Food Bank is one of the nation's largest, distributing more than 28 million pounds of food to low-income families, individuals and 500 non-profit organizations each year.

PV System Completed at Nellis Air Force Base

The U.S. Air Force announced the completion of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system at Nellis Air Force Base. A joint project of the U.S. Air Force, MMA Renewable Ventures, LLC, SunPower Corporation, and Nevada Power Company, the 14-megawatt (MW) system will generate more than 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and supply approximately 25 percent of the total power used at the base.

Nevada Gets First U.S. Solar Thermal Plant

Ausra Inc. announced it is building the first U.S. manufacturing plant for solar thermal power systems in Las Vegas. The 130,000-square-foot, highly automated manufacturing and distribution center will produce the reflectors, towers, absorber tubes and other key components of the company's solar thermal power plants.

United Natural Foods Extends Environmentally Responsible Initiatives With Installation of Largest Solar Electric System in New England

Rocky Hill, Conn., December 13, 2007 — Furthering its commitment to Environmentally Responsible Initiatives, United Natural Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: UNFI) along with Solar Works, Inc. and the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), today held a dedication ceremony for the installation of the largest solar electric system in New England. The 550-kilowatt STC solar photovoltaic system from SCHOTT Solar, installed at the Company's state-of-the-art distribution facility in Dayville, CT, is expected to generate approximately 600,000 kilowatt hours of clean energy annually

SPG Solar Installs 69 Kilowatt Solar PV System for MCA Architecture Planning Interiors, Payroll Masters, and vanderToolen Associates in Napa

MCA Architecture Planning Interiors, Payroll Masters and vanderToolen Associates, in partnership with SPG Solar, Inc., announced today the completion of a 69 kW roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) powered energy system at their headquarters in Napa.

Xantrex involved in dedication of largest solar installation in North America

Xantrex Technology Inc. (TSX:XTX) participated today in the dedication of North America's largest solar photovoltaic (PV) installation at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) in Nevada, marking the completion of the project which started in April 2007. Also attending today's event were the Governor of Nevada, Jim Gibbons, and representatives from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada Power Company, MMA Renewable Ventures and SunPower Corporation.

$1,180,000 Grant from Connecticut Clean Energy Fund Approved for Solar PV Installation at The Lee Company in Westbrook, Conn.

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) Board today announced approval of a $1,180,000 grant to defray approximately half of the total cost of a 308-kilowatt DC solar photovoltaic (PV) system at The Lee Company's Westbrook, Conn., Restrictor Group production facility. Upon completion, this system will be the largest solar photovoltaic system at a manufacturing facility in the state of Connecticut.

 

New Technology

DOE Selects SkyFuel to Develop CSP

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Program (DOE/SETP), announced that it is awarding SkyFuel, Inc. a $435,000 grant to develop its advanced Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) system known as the Linear Power Tower (LTP) for utility-scale solar thermal power plants.

BioSolar Announces Successful Run of Biobased Plastic Film

BioSolar, Inc. announced that the company has successfully completed a production run of the company's bio-based plastic film intended for use as a backing sheet for photovoltaic (PV) cells.

Nano Flakes Could Make PV More Efficient

Copenhagen, Denmark …A new material, nano flakes, may help drive the solar energy industry into the future. Dr. Martin Aagesen, a researcher at the University of Copenhagen and director of SunFlake Inc. is currently developing the technology which takes advantage of crystalline structures to absorb more sunlight than traditional solar photovoltaic (PV) cells.

 

Featured Events

1st Annual AEE Solar Dealer Conference, Feb 6-9, 2008, Mesa, AZ

AEE Solar, one of the renewable energy industry's oldest, largest and fastest-growing wholesale distributors, will hold its 1st Annual AEE Solar Dealer Conference in Arizona next February 6-9. The conference will feature special presentations by industry leaders John Wiles, Andy Black and David Katz, plus tradeshow-style product exhibits by top equipment manufacturers and scores of workshops and classes by suppliers and AEE Solar staff.

Company: AEE Solar  Start date: February 6, 2008 End date: February 10, 2008 Cost: $275 Location: Mesa, AZ