Solar Cells Info

SolarCity challenges residents to place big orders
By Stephanie I. Cohen,
South Orange, NJ, Oct 30, 2007
Source:Marketwatch.com
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/neighbors-go-solar-together-save/
story.aspx?guid=%7BDA1E6E39-0126-4459-9A3F-2298B88EE487%7D

Convincing a group of neighbors to agree on anything is rarely easy. But in a growing number of communities in the U.S. over the past year neighbors have proven fairly persuasive at influencing dozens of their peers to spend $25,000 or more on a rooftop solar system.  It started in Portola Valley, Calif., a sunny community 35 miles south of San Francisco. In December, 78 of the town’s 1,700 homes decided to pool their purchasing power and call in a large order for residential solar systems.
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Source: Telegraph.co.uk /Nov 3, 2007
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?
xml=/motoring/2007/11/03/mfshow03.xml
from the report
“Tokyo Motor Show: Japan’s new horizons are full of cuddly cars ”

Honda’s own thin-film photovoltaic solar cells went on sale this week in Japan. They are claimed to offer about half the payback time of conventional silicon crystal cells and are guaranteed for 10 years. Each 1.4×0.79 metre panel generates 125 watts of electricity in direct sunshine and has a conversion ratio of 11 per cent, against the industry standard for silicon cells of 15 to 17 per cent, although Sanyo announced a 22 per cent silicon cell this week.
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Submitted by Layer 8, Oct 23, 2007
Source: Networkworld
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/20935

The Panasonic World Solar Challenge is underway in Australia where 41 solar-powered cars – with four teams from the US – are racing 1,870 miles across the country’s rugged Northern Territory to try to win the 20th running of the event when it ends on Thursday.
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By Paul Sussman for CNN,
London, England, Oct 26, 2007
Source: CNN.com
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/10/24/solar.race/

If, by some extraordinary feat of filmic conjuring, you somehow spliced Death Race 2000, Back to the Future and Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, editing out the violence, time travel and transvestism, but keeping in the racing, futuristic cars and Australian scenery, you’d probably end up with something vaguely resembling the Panasonic World Solar Challenge.

Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Challenge is the world’s premier long-distance race for solar-powered vehicles, with competitors traveling 3000 kms along the Stuart Highway from Darwin in the far north of Australia to Adelaide in the south in cars powered solely by sunlight.
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Oct 25, 2007
Source: PhysOrg.com
http://www.physorg.com/news112539945.html
The Dutch Nuon team won the World Solar Challenge Thursday after racing 3,000 kilometres (1,865 miles) across Australia’s desert outback against competitors from across the world.

The sleek, sun-powered Nuna4 reached the final checkpoint at Angle Vale in the southern city of Adelaide late Thursday afternoon after setting off from the northern outpost of Darwin on Sunday morning. The car will continue on to the ceremonial finish line in Adelaide’s Victoria Square tomorrow. (more…)

by Mary Anne Simpson, Nov 1, 2007
Source: PhysOrg.Com
http://www.physorg.com/news113135176.html

The Prefecture of Fukushima, Japan and the Total Mobility Project have announced the creation of a solar powered auto converted from a standard Mazda Roadster. The joint efforts of government and citizen groups are attempting to address the needs of its aging and retirement age citizens.
A project sponsored by the Prefecture of Fukushima, Japan and a group focused on providing aging seniors a better lifestyle, Total Mobility has converted a Mazda Roadster into a solar driving machine. The combined efforts of government and private sector technology are seeking to provide affordable accessibility to the city for the projected large number of retirement age Japanese workers.
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By Tarra Quismundo, Inquirer
Manila, Philippines, Nov. 3, 2007
Source: Inquirer.net
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/
view_article.php?article_id=98463

Filipino ingenuity and faith powered the Philippines’ rookie solar car race team to reach the finish line of the 3000-kilometer World Solar Challenge in Australia.  All first-timers in solar car construction and operation, the 15-man Team Sinag (ray of light) carried the Philippine flag through the finish line of the WSC desert race, reportedly the most prestigious competition for solar-powered cars. (more…)

Ayoki Onyango. Nairobi, 31 October 2007
Source: AllAfrica.com
http://allafrica.com/stories/200710310998.html

Installation of solar panels in homes is on the rise following the recent rise in oil prices, which has led to an increase in the cost of electricity. Not only is electricity expensive due to a fuel surcharge, but there have also been numerous and unexplained power disconnections, particularly in Nairobi. This has caused a surge in demand for fuel-powered generators, and a growing interest in solar energy. (more…)

Taipei, Oct 25, 2007
Source: Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/
idUSTP13084720071025

Taiwan’s E-Ton Solar (3452.TWO: Quote, Profile, Research) has joined with Lite-On Technology Corp (2301.TW: Quote, Profile, Research), Hermes-Epitek Corp. and MiTAC-SYNNEX Group to establish a firm to make thin-film solar cells, the company said late on Thursday.  E-Ton and photovoltaic parts maker Lite-On will be the largest shareholders with 23.9 percent each in the company, which will have an initial capacity of up to 60 megawatts (MW) and have the manufacturing facilities fully installed by the end of 2008, the company said in an e-mail statement.
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By Gerard Wynn, Reuters, London, Oct 31, 2007
http://uk.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/
idUKL24158364._CH_.242020071031

A surge in investment in solar power is bringing down costs of the alternative energy source, but affordability problems still dog hopes for the 1.6 billion people worldwide without electricity.  The sun supplies only a tiny fraction — less than one tenth of 1 percent — of mankind’s energy needs. But its supporters believe a solar era may be dawning, boosted by western funding to combat oil “addiction” and climate change.
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