Solar Cells Info

By Frank Thadeusz / May 11, 2007
Source: Der Spiegel
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,481938,00.html

A German architect is pursuing an ambitious project in the Middle East. He wants to build office towers in Riyadh, Dubai and Bahrain that produce all their own energy. The zero emissions office building has arrived.  The Middle East is home to some of the most exciting architecture in the world today. Extravagant skyscrapers are going up in the region’s major cities, such as booming Dubai and Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi has plans for an ambitious museum complex.
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Sunanda Creagh, Urban Affairs Reporter /May 12, 2007
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/hundreds-see-light-with-8000-rebate/2007/05/11/1178390559640.html

SOLAR panel suppliers are reporting a surge in inquiries after the Government announced its $8000 rebate, but say prices will not be driven up by the budget handout.  The Government this week announced a doubling of the rebate for solar panels on homes, saying they expected 14,000 households to take up the grants.
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Carmanah Awarded Contract for up to $1.1 million in Solar Bus Stop, Signal and Shelter Lighting with King County Metrotransit, Washington

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada – Thursday, April 26, 2007
source: Carmanah Corp /press release
http://www.carmanah.com/content/investors/newsreleases.aspx

Carmanah Technologies Corporation (TSX: CMH) is pleased to announce it has entered a supply agreement with the King County Metro Transit (KCMT) to provide up to Cdn$1.1 million in solar-powered LED bus shelter lighting, bus stop lighting, signaling devices and spare parts. The supply agreement is valid up until April 30, 2008 with KCMT’s option to extend the contract for an additional four years.
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Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, May 8, 2007
Source: Carmanah.com /press release (more…)

The Monitor (Kampala)
Dorothy Nakaweesi, Kampala/ 5 May 2007

THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has (more…)

By Gavin Aitchison
Source: The Press
http://www.thisisyork.co.uk/display.var.1370116.0

THERE’S nothing better than a day in the sun at York Racecourse – now even more than before. The course has achieved a landmark first, by installing solar panels on the Knavesmire Stand in an attempt to become more eco-friendly.

Racecourse bosses have teamed up with York-based energy firm Positive Planet for the solar hot-water system, which should be ready in time for the start of this year’s racing season on Wednesday, May 16.  William Derby, chief executive of the racecourse, said: “We have been thinking about solar energy for some time.
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By Lynn Bonner, Staff Writer / May 02, 2007
Source: NewObserver.com
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/569918.html

Neighbors quizzed Gwendolyn Anderson about the solar panels she wanted to install on the roof of her Garner home. Would the panels hurt property values? Would the panels spew toxins if they caught fire? Would birds fly into them and die?

It took more than a year of calming fears and collecting signatures before Anderson got approval to use the sun to heat her water. “They put me through paces they didn’t require for other types of changes to people’s homes,” she said.  Into this age of conformity, where homeowners associations tell people where they can park and what style of mailbox they can have, comes a state proposal to loosen appearance rules for the sake of energy savings.
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Cara Jenkin, May 11, 2007
source: News.com.au
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21709963-2682,00.html

INSTALLING solar panels has never been cheaper in Adelaide, with the Federal Government’s expanded solar rebate scheme cutting the cost to almost a third.  Solar energy stores have urged homeowners to “get in before they miss out”.

They have been inundated with inquiries since this week’s announcement that the rebate scheme would be doubled to $8000.  For a $13,000 system, to supply up to 2kW of power, the rebate will cut the out-of-pocket cost to $5000. The old rebate was $4000.
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May 14, 2007
Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com
http://www.coshoctontribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070514/UPDATES01/70514007/1002/NEWS01

BERLIN, Ohio (AP) — In shunning modern technology, the Amish in northeast Ohio keep their homes free of electric and telephone wires. But a growing number of rooftops are sporting solar panels. Hundreds of Amish are taken with getting energy from the sun. They see it as a safe alternative to natural gas and kerosene as a source of light.  Livestock farmer Owen Nisley of nearby Charm said getting power through solar panels is “no different from my cows eating the grass that has captured the sun’s energy. … We love the solar, even in the winter when there are a lot of dark days.”
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Nuying Huang, Taipei; Rodney Chan, DIGITIMES, 11 May 2007
http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20070511PD204.html

Printed circuit board (PCB) maker Unitech Printed Circuit Board is said to be planning to enter the solar cell industry as it seeks to diversify its business, according to industry sources.  A Unitech engineering team is now receiving training on solar cell development, and the company is also evaluating the solar cell making equipment it will have to purchase, the sources indicated. The equipment supplier is likely to be Centrotherm, OTB Solar, Roth & Rau, or Schmid Technology Systems, all of which offer turnkey solutions, the sources added. (more…)