Solar Cells Info

by Yuri Kageyama, Tokyo, Dec 31, 2008
Source: Associated Press
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/
ALeqM5j6YAsF3SOqHlP0vYQgSsJ8YaR9LgD95E6O680

Toyota Motor Corp. is secretly developing a vehicle that will be powered solely by solar energy in an effort to turn around its struggling business with a futuristic ecological car, a top business daily reported Thursday.  The Nikkei newspaper, however, said it will be years before the planned vehicle will be available on the market. Toyota’s offices were closed Thursday and officials were not immediately available for comment. (more…)

By Andy Vuong. The Denver Post / 31 Dec 2008
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_11339744

Ilan Caplan and his wife, Amy Berkowitz Caplan, had solar panels installed on their home in Lowry a year ago. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post ). Ilan Caplan took the plunge last December and had 14 solar panels installed on the roof of his 2,900-square- foot home in Lowry.  The 2.87-kilowatt photovoltaic system — enough to generate about 75 percent of his family’s power needs — cost about $9,000 after rebates from Xcel Energy. He also received a $2,000 tax credit from the federal government.  Caplan has saved nearly $1,000 on utility bills and estimates that the cost of the system will be recovered in just more than seven years.  “I wished we would’ve done it earlier,” said Caplan, a finance director for a wind-power company based in California. (more…)

Toledo is fighting to become a leader in solar power.
Toledo, OH, December 15, 2008
Source: Vindy.com
http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/dec/15/toledo-turns-to-solar-panels-to-revive-city/

The smell of fresh paint drifts through an almost-empty warehouse. Near the back, researchers inspect a solar panel that’s lighter and more flexible than traditional models.  Within the last year, the number of employees at Xunlight Corp. has grown from 16 to 64. And there’s plenty of room for more. It’s among nine companies — from one of the world’s biggest solar panel makers to a handful of startups — that are turning this Rust Belt city battered by job losses into a research hub for converting sunlight into energy. “This is our chance,” said Xunming Deng, a physics professor who founded Xunlight. (more…)

Source: Azomaterials.com, Dec 18, 2008
http://www.azom.com/news.asp?newsID=14993

Dow Corning Corporation announced today several billion dollars of investment to provide critical materials to the fast-growing solar technology industry. “Dow Corning and our Hemlock Semiconductor joint ventures hope to create a viable solar industry that produces new, high paying jobs, clean power technologies and a revitalized economy,” said Stephanie A. Burns, Dow Corning’s chairman, president and CEO. “We’re committing our resources, know-how and technology because we are confident that solar technology represents a tremendous opportunity for both clean energy and economic growth.” (more…)

Source: TradingMarkets.com, December 21, 2008
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2095252/

Nippon Yusen KK (TSE:9101) and Nippon Oil Corp. (TSE:5001) held a ceremony Friday to flip the switch on an oceangoing car carrier powered in part by solar cells.  The ship can transport as many as 6,200 cars, and its maiden voyage will be to the Middle East hauling cars made by Toyota Motor Corp. (TSE:7203). The deck of the carrier is fitted with 328 large solar modules which together can supply as much as 40kw of power. Nippon Oil developed the solar power system. This is the world’s first large ship to use solar cells as an integral power source. (more…)

Santa Fe, NM, Dec 16, 2008
Source: Signet Solar press release
http://www.signetsolar.com/pdf/Signet_Solar_Dec_16_2008_eng.pdf

Governor Bill Richardson today announced Signet Solar will build the company’s first North American solar panel production facility in Belen. The first phase of the plant will bring 200 high-wage jobs to the state and is scheduled to begin operations in 2010. Signet’s long-term plans call for expansion and the creation of a total of 600 jobs.  “As Governor, I’ve been dedicated to making New Mexico a national leader of renewable energy and the creation of green jobs,” Governor Bill Richardson said. “At a time of economic uncertainty, this project will create hundreds of jobs and reaffirm New Mexico as a clean energy state and major player in our nation’s effort build a new clean energy economy.” (more…)

Company Files International Patent for BioBacksheet™
Santa Clarita, CA – December 8, 2008
Source: BioSolar Inc press release
http://www.biosolar.com/view_news.php?id=40

BioSolar, Inc. (OTC BB: BSRC), the developer of a breakthrough technology to produce bio-based materials from renewable plant sources that reduce the cost of photovoltaic solar cells, announced today that it has filed for worldwide patent protection of its proprietary BioBacksheet™. BioBacksheet is the world’s first solar cell backsheet made from renewable plant based materials, rather than expensive and environmentally unfriendly petroleum-based alternatives currently in use. (more…)

Three recent projects complete BP Solar’s portion of pilot project portfolio
Frederick, MD, 18 December 2008
Source: BP Solar USA press release
http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=9019567&contentId=7049862

BP Solar today announced the completion of its solar power construction program for Wal-Mart. The company recently completed construction of three sites in California, including the 493.7 kilowatt (kW) solar power system at the Sam’s Club in La Habra, California, as well as systems at Wal-Mart Super Centers in Palm Springs (605.9 kW) and Beaumont (675.2 kW). The three systems totalling over 1.7 MW mark the final installations of BP Solar’s 4.1 MW commitment to Wal-Mart as part of the retailer’s solar pilot project. (more…)

San Francisco, US,  December 22, 2008
Source: RenewableEnergyWorld.com
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=54364

Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. announced that it has won a bid to supply, design and install building integrated photovoltaic systems (BIPV) with a total capacity of 3 megawatts (MW) on the China and Theme Pavilions at the World Expo Shanghai 2010. The projects, which will be the largest BIPV installations in China, are scheduled to be completed by September 2009. Our selection underscores Suntech’s position as a global brand and world leader in the solar industry as well as our leading system integration capability in China.” — Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Chairman and CEO, Suntech. (more…)

Company Poised to Address a Market Opportunity for Its Innovative BioBacksheetTM Product
Santa Clarita, CA,   December 22, 2008
Source: BioSolar Inc, press release
http://www.biosolar.com/view_news.php?id=41&PHPSESSID=c1d6b530faada0ae10cf49d3f6298402

BioSolar, Inc. “is ushering in the inherent benefits of biomass by leading a pioneering effort to reduce the costs of solar modules by replacing petroleum-based solar panel components with durable biomass-based materials,” according to a web exclusive article posted December 10, 2008 on the website of BioMass Magazine. The article features BioSolar’s BioBacksheetTM, a protective covering for photovoltaic solar cells made from renewable plant sources, rather than the expensive petroleum-based film currently in use. This protective covering is needed in virtually all solar panels. (more…)