Solar Cells Info

by Eric Beauchemin, Jan 7, 2008
Source: Radio Netherlands
http://www.radionetherlands.nl/radioprogrammes/earthbeat/080107-solar-energy-africa

If there’s one thing Africa has an abundance of, it’s sunlight. And if there’s one thing it really lacks it’s electricity: at night, when you fly over Africa, all you see during most of the flight is darkness.  Solar energy would appear to be the ideal solution, but it’s still barely used in Africa. A Dutch organisation is planning to help change that. It is already providing solar energy to over 100,000 people in the continent.
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Solar lighting maker to concentrate on large projects
Darron Kloster, CanWest News Service,  January 03, 2008
Source: The Canada.com
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?
id=d7f6b77a-6153-41bb-8c41-bbabca18df17

Two and a half years after getting into the home solar power business, Carmanah Technologies is selling off the unit to its former owner.  The Victoria-based solar lighting manufacturer announced Wednesday it has signed a purchase agreement with David Egles, who will pay $1.5 million for the inventory and various equipment and fittings at the company’s leased facility in Barrie, Ont.
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Salt Lake City Tribune Editorial, Jan 3, 2008
Source: The Salt Lake City Tribune
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_7875236

Free pollution-free electricity, compliments of the sun! It sounds like an offer you can’t refuse. But who can afford it? While residential solar-energy systems eventually pay for themselves, it takes years, make that decades.  A 1-kilowatt solar-powered system utilizing silicon panels and connected directly to the electrical grid will cost $8,000-$10,000 installed. And despite the hefty investment, it will only reduce your electric bill. A 5-kilowatt system, enough to power the average home, can cost $35,000 or more, a prohibitive sum for most households.

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Ryan Jeltema, Assistant News Editor
Greenville, MI, Dec 30, 2007
Source: The Daily News of Greenville
http://www.thedailynews.cc/Main.asp?SectionID=2&ArticleID=17864

This year was up and down for Greenville’s newest major industry, United Solar Ovonic.  The Auburn Hills-based solar panel manufacturer opened the first of its two Greenville plants in the fall while recording a significant sales increase. United Solar Ovonic’s parent company, Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) of Rochester Hills, still fell well short of profitability, however, and two accidents at the first plant caused disruptions to the surrounding area.
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By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service,
Vatican City, Jan 4, 2008
Source. Catholic News Service
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0800072.htm

A German solar company has given Pope Benedict XVI something special for Christmas: an electricity-generating solar rooftop for the Vatican’s Paul VI audience hall.  The Bonn-based SolarWorld is donating approximately 2,000 solar modules to be installed on the audience hall roof to provide “the very first solar power ever generated in the Vatican,” said a company press release.
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Increased visibility will make it safer for seniors
By Emilie Crofton, Bay Area News Group, Jan 4, 2008
Source: MercuryNews.com
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_7883859?nclick_check=1

The Valley Transportation Authority’s bright idea to light up bus shelters with solar panels will make waiting for a bus safer for Almaden Valley seniors.   Several residents of Le Mirador senior housing, including Edith Keep and Essie Barador, were concerned with safety issues caused by changes to the bus routes after the approval of the VTA January 2008 Service Plan.  Those changes, as of Jan. 14, will force nearby residents and seniors at Le Mirador Senior Housing to switch from Bus 65 to Bus 64.
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Research Triangle Park, NC, Jan 7, 2008
Source: Carolina Newswire.com
http://carolinanewswire.com/news/News.cgi?
database=01news.db&command=viewone&id=90&op=t

A 30-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system was switched on late last week at Delta Products’ office in Research Triangle Park (RTP). Comprised of 160 solar panels, the array is the largest corporate-owned, roof-mounted solar PV system in the state. On average, it will produce about 36,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year – enough to power 3 to 4 typical NC homes and offset approximately 37 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
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January 7, 2008
Source: Rapidonline.com
http://www.rapidonline.com/latestnews.aspx?id=18416114&
tier1=Electrical+%26+Power&title=School+gets+solar+panels

Secondary school pupils in Manchester are to have their classrooms and learning resources powered by natural energy.  Sale Grammar School in Trafford is set to install photovoltaic solar panels as a means of microgeneration.  The solar panels, which are worth about £20,000 are to be donated by the Co-operative Group which has launched a £1 million Green Energy for Schools campaign.

Some 100 schools across the country are to benefit from the scheme to bring down their carbon emissions and educate students about climate change.  Headteacher of the Sale Grammar School told the Manchester Evening News: “To be one of the 100 schools in the country chosen to receive free solar panels is fantastic.

“Schools have a vital role to play in educating the next generation about climate change, and using this renewable energy technology to power our premises will help us to really bring that message home to pupils, parents and staff.”

Rapid Electronics are one of the UKs leading suppliers of electronic components, electrical products, and industrial supplies to
Electrical Contractor sector.

Source: Akeena Solar Inc, press release, Dec 13, 2007
http://akeena.net/cm/Press%20Release/dec1307.html

In order to make solar panels more affordable, San Francisco’s Solar Task Force has proposed the largest solar financing program in the nation. The program, along with state and federal rebates, would cut the cost of solar panels in half.  “San Francisco is a national leader in the development of renewable energy on city buildings,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “Providing incentives and loans directly to consumers makes it both easy and cost-effective for residents and businesses to go solar.”
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Suntech to Distribute Andalay Panels in Europe, Japan and Australia
Los Gatos, CA & San Francisco, CA, Jan. 2, 2008
Source: Akeena Solar Inc, press release
http://akeena.net/cm/Press%20Release/jan0208.html

Akeena Solar, Inc. (NASDQ: AKNS), a leading designer and installer of solar power systems, announced that its state-of-the-art solar panel technology, Andalay, will be distributed in Europe, Japan and Australia under a license agreement with Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) one of the world’s leading manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules.
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