http://evworld.com/blogs/index.cfm?authorid=12&blogid=780&archive=1

Dr. Richard Komp sent the following report from Pakistan today. Since he’s been a guest in my house and I’ve spent a fair amount of time with him when he was here in Omaha, I thought I’d share his email with you. You can watch the multi-part video I shot of one of his presentations at the King Magnet School on YouTube.

The monsoons have arrived. For days now it had been hot and muggy (Like southern Indiana in the summer) but on Friday the rains started. Just sprinkles at first but Friday night a big storm came in with lots of thunder and lightning and torrential rain. On Saturday, Faizan’s father Irfan and I went out looking for the thin, tin plated copper ribbon we use to solder the solar cells together to make the PV modules we are building. There was flooding at some of the intersections but it wasn’t too bad getting around when we started out.

We went to the Saddar market section of Karachi to check out the rows and rows of electronic market stalls, which sell everything you can imagine in the way of electronic parts – except tin plated copper ribbon, we found out. We splashed through flooded streets in the continuing rain going from stall to stall following directions as to where we might find the ribbon, but never did, there in the electronics area.

However, one of the stalls was selling PV modules and systems so we stopped and talked with them to see just what the photovoltaic market is like in Pakistan. It turns out that there already is a PV module manufacturer in Pakistan making rather good modules using a regular laminating machine and the Certified method of assembly with tempered glass (from Turkey), EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) and a Tedlar backing. The 80 watt module we examined is selling for about $320 or $4 per watt. Most of the rest of his stock was a collection of Chinese made modules that he was buying for around $2.50 per watt. Just since I came, (although I am pretty sure my presence had nothing to do with it) the Pakistani government has put a 25% tariff on the importation of finished PV modules, but has left duty-free the materials needed to manufacture the modules. This will be good for the new Sooraj Solar Company being organized by the people I am teaching, since they are in the process of purchasing an entire pallet of 10,000 Evergreen Solar cells to be air freighted here in the next couple of weeks. The off-spec Evergreen Solar cells are now less than 75 cents per watt in that quantity, and all the other parts (like the glass and transparent vinyl table cloth backing material) are cheaper here than in the US; so the cottage industry can compete with the Chinese imports and still make a decent income. The Solar market proprietor is very interested in carrying the new Soonezla brand of PV modules.

After the nice long discussion in the solar market with glasses of tea (I chose 7-Up after wondering how dirty the cups were), I suggested that we go to the jewelry artisan part of the Saddar, where people work all the time with thin gold, silver and copper sheets. Going around the stalls, Irfan spotted a silversmith he knew (who waded knee deep through the creek that the street had become, to come over and talk with us) and we discussed getting the ribbon made. He said that there would be no problem in making them from copper (although it might not be tin plated) and we settled on the dimensions: 2.5mm wide and 125 to 150 microns thick. In a few days we might have ribbon enough to continue making PV modules. We have already finished ten of the 60 watt ones and one 30 watt module from broken cells cut in half, and are making cell phone chargers while we wait for the ribbon to continue the production of the big modules. On Tuesday the 21st, we begin installing the finished modules and will probably do three installations by the time we finish the course on Friday the 24th. Irfan told me that there is a waiting list of people who have already spoken for 60 modules, so the cottage industry is well under way. However, we are still working on the problem of how to get larger quantities of the liquid silicon encapsulant we use instead of the EVA and the big laminating machine.

The people attending the course are mostly unemployed and two are refugees from the Swat Valley. I am not sure yet how many will be working as part of the new Sooraj Solar company and how many intend to work on their own, but their excitement is contagious as they work on learning these new techniques. Some of the people, including the Swat Valley refugees, have gotten very good at cutting the polycrystalline PV cells and others are having problems; but I have discovered that seems to be normal with these groups. It takes a certain kind of feel to cut crystals properly. We are using the latest techniques my friends like Marilu and Marco Antonio in Nicaragua have developed after their years of doing this work so the training is going well and the modules are looking ver professional. Of course, all of the modules are performing up to or better than specs and should last at least the guaranteed 25 years.

During the visit to the market, Irfan took me to a clothing shop he patronizes and decided to buy me some clothes appropriate for the climate of south Pakistan. We got a short sleeve shirt, a long sleeve dress shirt and two pair of nice lightweight, dress cotton slacks. I now have a size 42 waist! (There is nothing like a good tailor to make you face reality). The entire bill came to 958 Rupees; that is about $12 in total. I already have my emergency tie in my good jacket pocket so I passed on the 50 cent ties, although they looked pretty elegant.

The rain continued and when we drove back to the Alternative Energy Development Bureau (AEDB) guesthouse where I am staying, the streets had become rivers; except the newest streets where the city had put in large, well designed storm drains. Later in the evening, we were supposed to go to another wedding (this is the wedding season just before the month of Ramadan) so Irfan said he would pick me up around 9:30. In the afternoon and early evening, the storm intensified with strong winds lashing the rain against my windows and all the electricity went out all over town, as did the phones (cell phones included) and the Internet. Fiazan’s whole family showed up at the AEDB guesthouse in their car about 10:20 and said we were going to try to get to the wedding, which was only a few blocks away. Well we tried. The major streets looked like the creek behind Lynida’s house in Woodstock NY, waterfalls and all. Some streets were passable but there were lots of stalled cars blocking them and confusion at all the intersections. We finally gave up and got the car turned around to take me back. The street I am staying on is a nice boulevard with big trees in the middle. Many of these trees are now lying across the west lanes so we had to twist our way around the debris to get me back home. After looking at my new pants, I decided to skip supper.

It is now Sunday morning and the storm has subsided, although it is still raining off and on. The electricity and phones are still both out and the Internet and the cable TV both work very intermittently so I don’t know when this message will get off to you; but the (non-renewable) diesel generator here at the AEDB is working (sort of) and I have enough electricity to write this report. I have been reminding the people I work with that the Indus Valley here has had civilization for the past 8000 years and fossil fuels will have been used for only about 250 years before we stop in a couple of decades. So which is the short term alternative, and which is the real sustainable form of energy?

I will be back in Boston on Wednesday evening the 29th of this month, in time to give the PV module assembly workshop at Tufts University before flying off on Wednesday the 5th of August to do the same thing at the University of Nebraska in Omaha. Then on Tuesday the 11th of August I go off to Peru to repeat the same month long cottage PV module assembly and installation workshop up in Ninacaca, 14,500 feet up in the Andes. I’ll be back in Maine by the 9th of September if everything goes as planned.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-City-Kolkata-

Centre-gives-Rs-15-cr-for-solar-lanterns/articleshow/4796590.cms

The Centre has cleared Rs 1.5 crore for distributing 14,000 solar lanterns in the Aila-affected areas. This will give a major boost to the state government’s efforts to redevelop the affected villages in the Sunderbans.  West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation (WBGEDC) managing director S P Gon Choudhuri said this was the first time the Centre has approved 100% grant for introducing solar lighting in a particular area.

“Each solar lantern will be equivalent to three kerosene lamps. That means, the 14,000 solar lanterns will serve the purpose of 42,000 kerosene lanterns. Again, each kerosene lantern consume three litre of kerosene per month. The initiative will lead to monthly saving of 1.26 lakh litre kerosene,” Gon Choudhuri said.

The solar lanterns will primarily be rolled out at hospitals, girls’ hostels, panchayat offices and police stations. “The lanterns will also be sent to camps that have been set up for Aila affected villagers,” he said. Around 20 companies that manufacture solar energy panels will be entrusted the job to send the solar lanterns to the Sunderbans.

WBGEDC had taken the initiative after Aila devastated villages in the Sunderbans to send solar lanterns to the most affected places.  The cyclone had washed away about 40,000 solar panels and damaged about 20 clusters of solar and biomass power plants that used to supply power to about 10,000 households at villages like Kumirmari, Lahiripur and Satjelia. Around 1,000 solar lanterns, christened Aila and costing Rs 900 each, was sent to the worst-hit villages free-of-cost to combat the crisis.

Later, WBGEDC authorities approached the Union renewable energy ministry to frame a package to restore lighting in Sunderbans.  A proposal was submitted that the ministry finally approved with cent percent grant. “The introduction of the high efficiency solar lanterns will help in emitting low carbon pollution,” Gon Choudhuri said.

With most of the Sunderbans yet to have access to grid connectivity, solar is the primary source of electricity in the islands. The area has the highest concentration of solar power installations in the country.

http://solar.sharpusa.com/solar/ads_and_pr/1,2482,0,00.html

Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group, the U.S. solar arm of Sharp Corporation, a leading global provider of solar electric solutions, bolsters its NU line of solar modules with the introduction of the new NU-U230F3 and the NU-U235F1 modules.  Delivering powerful performance and enhanced aesthetics, the new NU modules are an optimal choice to meet the needs of both residential and commercial solar installations.

“Sharp consistently innovates our product portfolio, taking into consideration valuable customer feedback on features that best suit their needs.  Our customers requested a sleek black panel, and we delivered.  We’re able to deliver a solar electricity solution that is ideal for virtually any application — residential, commercial, and utility scale,” said Ron Kenedi, vice president of Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group.  “These latest module introductions illustrate Sharp’s commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable solar products that address the various demands of the energy market and our end users.“

The sleek design of the new NU-U230F3 features a black backsheet and black frame that offers modern aesthetics for a visually appealing installation. One of the most powerful residential modules that Sharp manufactures today, the NU-U230F3 delivers excellent performance with a uniform black appearance that complements a home’s roof.

The 235-watt NU-U235F1 is ideal for the high performance demands of commercial solar power systems. The model’s design increases light absorption with its white backsheet which allows for reflectance of additional sunlight into the cell for superior performance and power output.

Offering high-quality, competitively priced and superbly reliable solar products is at the core of Sharp’s efforts to accelerate the global deployment of clean, renewable emissions-free solar power.  By offering the widest variety of solar electricity products, Sharp is striving to make solar power an increasingly mainstream energy solution – one that is accessible, efficient and cost-effective.  Customers can be confident in the caliber of Sharp solar products, backed by a 25-year warranty on power output that is rooted in nearly half a century of solar energy research and development.

Both the NU-U230F3 and NU-U235F1 modules will available in July.  Sharp entered the U.S. solar market in 2002 and is a market leader; it has operated solar module operations at its manufacturing facility in Memphis, TN since 2003.  Sharp’s suite of residential products includes the breakthrough OnEnergyTM solar system, an all-in-one solution that offers enhanced aesthetics, and building-integrated solar modules for a discrete, nearly invisible installation.

About Sharp
Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group, based in Huntington Beach, California, is a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of Sharp Corporation, Osaka, Japan.  Sharp is a world market leader in solar cell production, and offers both standard and integrated roof modules for home and business applications.  Further information on Sharp’s commitment to solar energy, its product line and the ways in which Sharp makes it easy to go solar is available online at www.solar.sharpusa.com.

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090714-708396.html

Solar panel maker Suntech Power Holdings Co. (STP) signed nonbinding agreements with four Chinese provinces and cities to develop up to 1.8 gigawatts of solar projects.  Projects resulting from these agreements could be installed between 2010 and 2012, Steve Chadima, Suntech’s spokesman, said in an email.  Suntech agreed to develop 300 megawatts in Shaanxi province, 500 MW in Shizuishan city, located in Ningxia province, 500 MW in Qinghai province, and 500 MW in the Panzhihua city of the Sichuan province.

“Qinghai is the farthest along, but all of these governments are serious about seeing solar installations installed in their jurisdictions,” said Chadima.  “Suntech’s announcements demonstrate its aggressiveness in pursuing relationships to create downstream (development) long-term opportunities in China once policy support is clarified,” Paul Clegg, analyst with Jefferies & Co., wrote Monday in a note to clients.

“The size of these agreements is typical of large Chinese scale and may impress on the surface. However, the policy details necessary to determine whether or not a massive solar build in China makes sense near-term are still missing and these figures should not be considered etched in stone, but rather indicative of initial enthusiasm for the long-term possibilities for [solar power] in China,” Clegg added.

The analyst has a hold rating on the stock and a $14 12-month price target. Jefferies makes a market in the stock, but hasn’t provided investment banking services to Suntech.  The company’s shares closed up 57 cents or 4% at $14.92 in Monday’s trading when the overall market went up. Before Suntech starts implementing the project it must get the necessary permits, settle on the national and provincial feed-in-tariffs and other incentives, and meet other conditions.

The Chinese government is in the process of developing a national feed-in tariff, but one person active in the Chinese solar market said that project owners would be paid in the range of CNY1.1 to 1.3 per kilowatt-hour. Some provinces like Shanghai, Shenzhen, Jiangxi and Zhejiang are considering additional subsidies, according to the person.

Each of Suntech’s regional projects will start with 50 MW, most likely, and move up from there, said Chadima.  He declined to estimate how much revenue Suntech could see from these deals.  The company will provide its modules, some balance of system products and engineering services. It will subcontract the construction and sell the project “eventually” to a third party to own and operate, said Chadima. These parties haven’t yet been determined, said Chadima.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2009/07/new_state_entity_will_oversee_utility-scale_solar_projects.html

A new state entity will work with the four investor-owned utilities in Massachusetts to develop large-scale solar power installations, state officials announced Thursday.  “Development of solar generation through a statewide pool will drive down costs through economies of scale and spread the costs and benefits across the broadest base of customers,” Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley wrote in a statement announcing that her office would be working with Governor Deval Patrick’s office on the effort.

Under the Green Communities Act of 2008, National Grid, NStar, Unitil Corp. and Western Massachusetts Electric Co. can own solar-generating facilities, and have until the end of 2012 to develop up to 50 megawatts each of solar generating capacity. The governor has set a goal to have 250 megawatts of solar generating capacity installed in Massachusetts by 2017.

State officials said they decided to create a new entity to oversee the utilities’ solar efforts because of the disparities they saw among the companies’ geographic coverage areas and customer bases. Those officials worried that such disparities would make it difficult to keep solar projects cost competitive while also ensuring that as many customers as possible could take advantage of energy generated by solar installations.

The new entity will indentify sites for solar installations and then develop cost-competitive projects.  Western Mass. Electric, which serves about 210,000 customers, meanwhile, already has plans to develop six megawatts of solar capacity, but has said it will work with the statewide entity when it comes into being.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/16/1m16solar001246-city-leads-california-solar-instal/?metro&zIndex=132821

The sun might seem to shine a little brighter in San Diego today with the release of an independent analysis that shows the city has the most solar roofs and greatest solar-power capacity in place statewide.  The nonprofit group Environment California ranked San Diego tops in its “California’s Solar Cities” report, ahead of Los Angeles, a much larger city, and San Francisco, which has a reputation for all things green.

Ten years ago, San Diego wasn’t among the Top 10 solar cities. “San Diego has just basically woken up to its potential,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, the report’s author.  The city has 2,262 solar roofs that together can generate 19.4 megawatts of electricity – roughly equivalent to the power used by 12,000 homes.

Del Chiaro and San Diego officials said the city’s solar success is driven by factors such as:
the Kearny Mesa headquarters for the California Center for Sustainable Energy, which promotes solar power through government rebates and other means  lots of sunshine and City Hall’s fast-track permitting for solar projects.

San Diego’s ranking didn’t surprise Tom Blair, the city’s energy czar. He said local efforts to increase use of solar power ramped up after the energy crisis at the beginning of this decade.  “In 2001, we have a chart that shows there were basically no (solar power) installs,” Blair said. “And you can see how the graph just climbs dramatically. In the last couple of years, the installs have gone astronomical.”

Mayor Jerry Sanders is trying to maintain the momentum by allowing residents to obtain loans for installing solar panels, then pay them off over 20 years through their property tax bills. The pilot program is expected to launch in the fall with about 500 participants.  And today, San Diego and the sustainable energy center will unveil an online mapping tool that will allow residents to view details about solar installations countywide and assess the solar potential for homes in certain neighborhoods.

“The goal is to get the whole community involved and have everyone sharing information,” said Kevin Murphy of CH2M Hill, which helped create the San Diego Solar Map.  City officials hope the interactive display, federal tax incentives and other measures will spur more residents to install solar panels despite the struggling economy.  The statewide target set by the Legislature is 1 million solar roofs by 2017. So far, nearly 50,000 rooftop solar power systems dot California, up from 521 a decade ago, according to today’s report.

The benchmark might seem lofty, but solar advocates said the falling price of generating solar power makes it realistic. Solar power costs could drop by half by 2017 and make the energy source comparable to conventional ways of generating electricity, according to Environment California. “Our (solar) market has been growing by roughly 50 percent compounded annually,” Del Chiaro said. “If we maintain our annual growth rate, we will hit the million solar roofs goal.”

Environment California’s analysis was based on data from agencies such as the Public Utilities Commission and power providers. Del Chiaro was encouraged by developments such as the increased use of solar power in the Central Valley.  “It is no longer limited to typically liberal, coastal areas like San Francisco and Santa Cruz,” she said. “It is moving inland. Farmers are catching on. Suburban dwellers are catching on.”

RANKINGS
San Diego has more rooftop solar panels than any other city in the state.
San Diego 2,262
Los Angeles 1,388
San Francisco 1,350
San Jose 1,333
Fresno 1,028
Bakersfield 751
Clovis 733
Santa Rosa 725
Sacramento 692
Berkeley 648
Source: Environment California

Major Taiwan-based solar cell makers Motech Industries, E-Ton Solar Tech, Gintech Energy, Neo Solar Power and Solartech Energy have recently seen significant increases in utilization rates, according to the companies.

Major Taiwan-based solar cell makers’ current utilization rates
Company   —   Utilization rate, Remark
Motech   —70-80% in Taiwan, 100% in eastern China ,
Utilization in Taiwan expected to rise in July
E-Ton   — About 80%  , Utilization likely to rise in 3Q09
Gintech -  Nearly 100% , May reach full capacity in July
Neo Solar  -  Over 80% ,  May reach full capacity in July
Solartech  -  About 50%, Utilization expected to reach 70-80% in 3Q09
Source: Companies, compiled by Digitimes, June 2009

http://www.physorg.com/news167321476.html

As part of Toyota’s national marketing campaign for the third generation Prius launch in 2010, the company is “planting” giant solar-powered flowers in urban areas. The flowers generate electricity and provide free Wi-Fi for anyone passing by.  Meant to represent the Prius theme of “Harmony between Man, Nature, and Machine,” the 18-foot flowers have solar cells behind their petals and at the base of the stem. The generated electricity travels down the stem to plastic green benches with 110-volt outlets. Each of the five flower provide room for up to 10 people to sit while charging their cell phones, laptops and other devices. Currently appearing in Boston, the solar flowers will later travel to New York, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The flowers operate daily from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm.

In addition to the flowers, Toyota is also demonstrating solar ventilation bus shelters in some cities. The shelters feature solar panels on the roof that operate fans and circulate air within the shelter. This system serves as a model of the Prius’ solar-powered ventilation system, which uses solar panels on the roof to power a fan that ventilates the car when parked in the sun.

http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/Solar_Semiconductor_to_establish_solar_cell_plant_at_Fab_City_-nid-59511.html

Solar Semiconductor, a Hyderabad-based photovoltaic (PV) modules manufacturer has announced that it will set up a solar cell plant at its Fab City campus. The company plans to invest $100 million (Rs. 490 crore) in this plant. According to Ravi Surapaneni, Vice-President of the company, initially the plant will have a capacity of 30 Mw and subsequently it will be ramped up to 60 Mw.  At present, Solar Semiconductor has a photovoltaic module-making capacity of 200 Mw a year, including 130 Mw at the Fab City and 70 Mw at Kompally. Both the facilities are dedicated to the export markets in the U.S., Germany, Spain and Italy. The solar cells manufactured at the new plant will be utilized by the company’s PV module-making plant at the Fab City.

According to Surapaneni, the PV modules business is expected to grow at around 30 percent annually. At present, the international price for PV modules is about $3.5 per watt and the global market for PV products is estimated to be $30 billion. Solar Semiconductor is among the few firms that have started operations at the Fab City, originally a semiconductor cluster but now a PV module cluster. The company also plans to add thin-film technology for making PV cells. It is also setting up a reliability laboratory at its premises at a cost of $2 million (Rs 9.8 crore) for testing new material to be used in solar cell making, which will be ready in about two months.

The company was certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an independent product safety certification organization, as a high-wattage PV modules manufacturer. UL India Sales and Marketing Director Manish Bhatnagar said, “The products of Solar Semiconductor have adhered to the prevailing international safety standards. The certification will allow Solar Semiconductor to access wider markets.” This certification has enabled Solar Semiconductors to spread its wings in the industry, starting with this new facility it has planned to establish.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fb4cc69e-70d4-11de-9717-00144feabdc0.html

Q-Cells, the world’s biggest manufacturer of solar cells, yesterday blamed tough market conditions for its decision to scrap its full-year sales outlook and warned it would post a big loss in the second quarter. The update shocked investors, leaving the stock more than 14 per cent lower at €11.32 at the close after the German company revealed that an anticipated seasonal upturn in demand had not materialised. Competition from Asian producers has caused an over-supply of solar components, while financing for big projects remains in short supply.

Anton Milner, Q-Cells’ British-born chief executive, told analysts that the pricing situation would remain “challenging” for the industry but held out the prospect of an improvement in volumes in the second half of the year. Q-Cells swung to a preliminary €62m ($86.5m) loss before interest and tax in the second quarter. Revenues are set to fall 36.9 per cent to €142m from the first quarter, making this the fourth cut in revenue outlook since December.

The company said it was no longer willing to make a full-year revenue forecast. It had most recently forecast 2009 sales of between €1.3bn and €1.6bn. Q-Cells burnt through €127m in cash during the quarter but took comfort in a cash reserve of about €520m, supported by the issuing of a convertible bond and the sale of a stake in REC, a Norwegian solar company. It said it saw no need for another financing round next year.

Responding to developments, Q-Cells said it would intensify an existing cost-cutting programme and further reduce its capital investment programme, coupled with other capacity, cash-flow and financing optimisation measures.

Many of the Q-Cells’ German employees are already working a shorter working-week owing to the slump in demand and build-up in inventories. The impact of treacherous market conditions on solar companies has varied according to their position in the supply chain. Q-Cells’ core business is the production of silicon-wafer solar cells, the building-blocks of photovoltaic solar modules.

Module manufacturers are demanding lower cell prices, putting a squeeze on Q-Cells’ margins as the company has not been able to fully re-negotiate the terms of its contracts with wafer suppliers. However, falling prices are expected to provide a boon for solar system integrators and installers as consumers rush to exploit the higher returns they can make by generating solar energy and feeding it into the grid.

The sector is expected to see a pick-up in demand next year as the US becomes a more important market for solar products.