Solar Cells Info

Source: Aleo Solar AG press release / July 15, 2008
http://www.aleo-solar.de/en-presse/aleo-solar-ag-supplies-solar-modules-and-
photovoltaic-systems-worth-more-than-eur-35-million-to-european-coun.html

Aleo solar AG today announced that it continues to expand its market position in Europe. Customers from Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic have ordered solar modules and photovoltaic systems worth more than EUR 35 million for the current year. Together with the contracts previously reported, the current order volume of aleo solar AG for the year 2008 amounts to over EUR 185 million. (more…)

Thin-film solar cells are cheaper than traditional solar panels, such as those made of polycrystalline silicon, but the yield is lower. However, the combination of these properties is promising according to the Thin-Film Future conference organized recently by SolarPlaza in Munich. An impression of the heavily attended gathering.
By: Rijkert Knoppers
Source: GlassOnWeb.com
http://www.glassonweb.com/news/index/7986/

A solar installation over 6,000 m2 has been built in a field near to the German town of Waltenhofen. Its total power is 0.4 MW. Seven kilometers of electrical cable is required to transport the power generated by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industry thin-film solar panels. Another solar power plant has been produced next to this field in the same amount of space, but in this case using crystalline silicon solar panels. At 0.7 MV, the power from this plant is almost twice as much as that from the other installation. (more…)

New Funding Increases Access to Renewable Energy through CCEF’s Affordable Housing Initiative
Rocky Hill, Conn., July 9, 2008
Source: RenewableEnergyWorld.com
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?cid=2950&id=53014

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) board today announced authorization for an additional $2.5 million for CCEF’s Affordable Housing Initiative.  The Affordable Housing Initiative is an incentive program that helps make solar photovoltaic (PV) installations an attractive, affordable option for developers of both small and large-scale affordable housing projects.  Lise Dondy, president of CCEF, said, “We are excited to be rolling out this program on a large scale after our successful pilot.  The additional funding will allow us to make the program incentives available to more developers across the state.”  Dondy added, “As a result, more developers and tenants will now be able to enjoy the benefits of solar PV installations.” (more…)

Ewing, N.J., July 14, 2008
Source: BusinessWire/MarketWatch.com
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/worldwater–solar-technologies-announces/
story.aspx?guid=%7B60E2AA61-A604-48B7-BE69-EDD16FBB3178%7D&dist=hppr

WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp., developer and marketer of proprietary high-power solar systems, today announced that it has begun work on several solar installations for Ocean City. The systems, consisting of roof mounts on the Cultural Arts and Community Center, the new Public Works Complex building, the Vehicle Maintenance Center, the Sports and Civic Center and the Firehouse, are anticipated to produce nearly 550,000 kilowatt-hours of energy in their first year. Project completion is expected by the fourth quarter of 2008. (more…)

by David R. Baker, San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer, July 15, 2008
Source: SFGate.com
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/14/BUNL11OVEF.DTL

California has added enough solar power to its electrical grid this year to light a small town, according to an update released Monday on the state’s solar rebate program.  Those rebates, which go to businesses and homeowners who put solar panels on their roofs, have funded enough new installations this year to generate 59.4 megawatts of electricity, about enough to juice up 44,550 homes. All told, that’s more solar power than was installed in all of 2006, according to the update from the California Public Utilities Commission.
(more…)

by Matthew L. Wald, July 8, 2008
Source: International Herald Tribune
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/08/business/solar.php

A Michigan company, Energy Conversion Devices, planned to announce Tuesday that it would provide the solar electric system for what it says will be the world’s largest rooftop array, on a General Motors assembly plant in Zaragoza, Spain. The project will be 12 megawatts, a huge number in a field where most arrays are measured in kilowatts.  Solar cell arrays on houses are commonly a handful of kilowatts, or thousandths of a megawatt. On big commercial buildings, installations of one or two megawatts have become common. A one-megawatt installation will run about 1,000 window air-conditioners simultaneously, at least as long as the sun is shining. (more…)

Tracking Technology to Generate Solar Power at Shopping Centers, Landfills, Open Spaces
San Diego, CA, July 11, 2008
Source: MarketWatch.com
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/harnessing-sun-sdge-launches-largest/
story.aspx?guid=%7B2F5450D4-BB1A-468F-B813-3BECCCA20A60%7D&dist=hppr

Joined by state officials and local community leaders, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today announced plans for the largest solar power installation in San Diego. SDG&E’s program is aimed at increasing adoption of solar power among San Diego-area commercial customers, municipalities and institutions — a key sector that can support more substantial generating sites. SDG&E plans the largest concentration in San Diego of advanced, solar-tracking technology, with an initial target of developing 70 to 80 megawatts of solar electricity, about two-thirds of which would be utility-owned and, the remainder, customer- or third-party owned. Combined, the installations could be enough to power more than 50,000 homes. (more…)

Taean, July 8, 2008
Source: KoreaTimes/TehranTims
http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=172653

LG Solar Energy, an affiliate of LG Group, has completed the nation’s biggest solar energy plant here in the western coastal region and started producing electricity. The facility, which is the result of some 110 billion won investment by teaming up with the local government on some 300,000 square meters of land, will have a 14-megawatt total output capacity, which is enough to meet the power needs of 8,000 households around the region, a company spokesman said. (more…)

Jiangsu, China, June 30, 2008
Source: Canadian Solar Inc, press release/PRNewswire
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=196781&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1170437

Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq: CSIQ) today announced it signed a ten-year supply contract with LDK Solar, a leading manufacturer of multi-crystalline and mono- crystalline solar wafers. LDK has been a key supplier to CSI since summer of 2006. This new ten-year supply contract is in addition to the three-year supply contract signed between CSI and LDK in October 2007. LDK expects to begin the ramp up of its in-house polysilicon manufacturing project in the second half of 2008. (more…)

Jiangsu, China, July 7,, 2008
Source: Canadian Solar Inc, press release/PRNewswire
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=196781&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1172170

Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq: CSIQ) today announced it signed five new sales agreements in Italy and the Czech Republic in the past three weeks. The customers covered under these agreements are WSW in the Czech Republic, and Arco Energy, AC Service, Ravano Green Power and Albatec of Italy.  The total volume of shipments for 2008 for the above mentioned new agreements totals 14.9 MW and reflects sales of CSI’s regular module products. The sales will be realized in the second half of 2008 and are in addition to existing shipments to customers in Germany, Spain, USA, Korea and China. (more…)