Solar Cells Info

by Anne Moore Odell, June 23, 2008
Source: Social Funds.com
http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2521.html

More investors are seeing the benefits of buying solar stocks, whether to diversify portfolios or to champion an energy movement.  Solar energy is clean energy’s rising star, leading the pack in renewable energy investments last year. The Solar Energy Industries Association ( SEIA) reports that 254 megawatts of photovoltaic and concentrating solar power were installed in 2007. The solar energy sector has grown substantially over the past 25 years. At the same time, some investors have also seen substantial growth in their solar-related investments.  “Solar energy equipment can be deployed to create power in several ways, thus one can diversify investment within the sector,” said Monique Hanis, director of communications at SEIA. (more…)

American Capital Energy to Install Solar Photo Voltaic System at ACL’s 240,000 Sq. Ft. Elizabeth, NJ, Facility
Elizabeth, NJ, and North Chelmsford, MA, June 24, 2008
Source: MarketWire
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=872204

Atlantic Central Logistics, (ACL) a leading asset-based logistics company, today announced that a 700-kilowatt (kW) DC solar photovoltaic (PV) system will be installed by North Chelmsford, Massachusetts-based American Capital Energy on the roof of ACL’s Elizabeth, NJ, headquarters.  Established in 1980, Atlantic Central Logistics has become a leading provider of supply chain management, distribution, warehousing, driver leasing, and local cartage to the freight forwarder within the transportation industry. Atlantic Central operates in nine cities throughout the US. (more…)

Source: Deutsche Welle-World.de / 22 June 2008
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3430319,00.html

A solar power plant described by its operators as the biggest in the world began generating electricity at the site of a former East German air base on Sunday, June 22, 2008. The Waldpolenz Solar Park is built on a surface area equivalent to 200 soccer fields, the solar park will be capable of feeding 40 megawatts into the power grid when fully operational in 2009.  In the start-up phase, the 130-million-euro ($201 million) plant it will have a capacity of 24 megawatts, according to the Juwi group, which operates the installation. (more…)

Hiroshi Imahori and Tomokazu Umeyama explain why carbon nanotubes are promising candidates for organic solar cells.
18 June 2008
Source: Chemical Technology, Royal Society of Chemistry
http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/ChemTech/Volume/2008/07/Imahori_insight.asp

Cheap and efficient conversion of solar energy into electricity could help combat global warming and the shortage of fossil fuels. However, the high production cost of electricity from silicon-based solar cells has limited the use of the technology. Low cost solar cells with high cell performance are highly desirable and organic solar cells could be the answer. They are easy to make from inexpensive organic materials and, unlike inorganic solar cells, are lightweight, flexible and colourful. (more…)

Source: Printed Electronics World, 23 June 2008
http://www.idtechex.com/printedelectronicsworld/articles/
highlights_of_photovoltaics_beyond_conventional_silicon_event_00000971.asp

The second day of the conference began with keynote presentations from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Idaho National Laboratory.  Prof. Arthur Frank of the NREL gave some insight into the type of research they conduct on sensitized solar cells, both dye and quantum dot.  The NREL’s research efforts on DSSC’s focus on better matching dye absorption coefficients to the solar spectrum. The resulting improvements could lead to an increase of photocurrent by 40% and efficiencies going from 11% to 20%. (more…)

Zuerich, June 16, 2008
Source: Reuters /Reporting by Eva Kuehnen, editing by Elizabeth Fullerton
http://uk.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUKL1632770620080616

German solar module maker Solon (SOOG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) bought a roughly 16 percent stake in newly formed U.S. solar cell maker SpectraWatt, broadening its supplier base and its presence in the U.S. market, the company said on Monday.  Solon shares jumped as much as 7 percent and were up 5 percent at 55.30 euros by 1507 GMT. The stock has fallen about 27 percent since the beginning of the year.  Solon said it paid a sum in the lower double-digit million euros for the stake. (more…)

by Martin LaMonica, June 16, 2008
Source: CNet News Green Tech Blog
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9969631-54.html

Intel made a big leap into the burgeoning clean-tech sector on Monday by creating SpectraWatt, a spinoff company that will manufacture solar cells.  Its investment arm, Intel Capital, is leading a $50 million round in SpectraWatt. Other investors include Goldman Sachs subsidiary Cogentrix Energy, PCG Clean Energy and Technology Fund, and German solar company Solon. (more…)

Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education, 12 June 2008
http://chronicle.com/blogs/architecture/2191/
the-hottest-thing-on-campuses-this-year-solar-power

Across the Sun Belt, colleges and universities are gearing up to tap into solar power as a way to reduce their carbon emissions and make themselves greener. Several campuses have unveiled plans recently to put up large solar-power installations that will generate significant portions of their electricity. (more…)

Press Trust of India / Mumbai June 12, 2008
http://www.business-standard.com/common/
storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=10&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=39823

Tata Agrico, a division of Tata Steel, has entered into an agreement with Tata BP Solar for distributing solar products of the latter, primarily in the rural hinterland of the country.  This initiative is primarily aimed at targeting consumers who are deprived of regular electricity supplies owing to poor infrastructure, a press release issued here today stated.

Tata Agrico would be leveraging its extensive distribution network in the country to promote the solar products of Tata BP.Both the companies would primarily focus on products such as solar lanterns, street-lights and water-heating systems, the release said. The companies see a huge potential in both rural and semi-urban markets and have decided to start this partnership from Bihar in June which will be followed by a nation-wide roll-out, the release said.

Innovative Chargers, Metering Services, Carbon Credits and Sunsei.com Revamping Facilitate an Integrated Solar Lifestyle
Montreal, Canada, June 12, 2008
Source ICP Solar Technologies Inc, press release
http://www.icpsolar.com/4105/news_details.asp?news_id=51

ICP Solar Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: ICPR, FRANKFURT: K1U.F), a developer, manufacturer and marketer of solar panels and products, today announced that ICP Solar senior management, led by CEO and Chairman Sass Peress, will introduce the Company’s new line of Sunsei® Solar products, services and website at Intersolar 2008, the world’s largest solar technology trade fair being held in Munich, Germany June 12th through the 14th. (more…)