Solar Cells Info

Golden, CO, February 28, 2007
Source: PrimeStar Solar /press release
http://www.primestarsolar.com/documents/finalCRADA1_000.pdf

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and PrimeStar Solar, Inc. announced today that they have signed an $870,000 cooperative research and development agreement to transition NREL’s leading cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) technology to commercial module production. This technology has been used to produce the world record cadmium telluride photovoltaic cell efficiency of 16.5% by NREL’s Professor Xuanzhi Wu and his
colleagues.  In this agreement, Professor Wu is the principal investigator for NREL while Dr. Joe Beach and Dr. Fred Seymour are the principal investigators for PrimeStar Solar.

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Feb 24, 2007
Source: The Molokai Times
http://www.molokaitimes.com/articles/7224132618.asp

Governor Linda Lingle has released $5 million for photovoltaic systems to be installed in at least one public school in each of the four Hawai’i counties, as part of the state’s ongoing effort to increase Hawai’i’s energy self-sufficiency. A pilot program to determine the cost-effectiveness of solar panel systems in schools throughout the state will begin in March 2007. The Department of Education (DOE) will rate all public schools to determine the best locations to install the alternate energy systems, based on criterion such as solar mapping, area electrical rates and other scheduled maintenance.
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by Arabian Business Staff, 25 February 2007
source: ArabianBusiness.com
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8284

The government of Abu Dhabi will build a US$350m solar power plant, the first of its kind in the world’s biggest oil exporting region, an investor in the project has said. The 500 megawatt plant, expected to begin operations in 2009, is part of Abu Dhabi’s drive to cut dependence on hydrocarbon power generation, said Sultan al-Jaber, chief executive of state-owned Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company.
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Greenpeace International /February 26, 2007
Source: American Chronicle
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=21334

Tel Aviv, Israel – Greenpeace welcomes the announcement from the Ministry of Infrastructure that the proposed solar power plant in Eshalim, originally proposed in 2001, will finally be put out to tender to private contractors.  Greenpeace Mediterranean has led the campaign for renewable energy power plants to be constructed in the region. In 2005, the organisation submitted a report to the Ministry of Infrastructure, which proved that the construction of solar power stations would generate a profit of NIS 810 million annually, would create 5,000 new jobs, and would turn Israel into a world leader in the export of renewable technology to help combat climate change. The decision today is a good first step in this direction.
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February 27, 2007
Source: Bernama.com
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=248929

PULAU KAPAS (Marang), Feb 27 (Bernama) — Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB)’s hybrid electricity supply system in Pulau Kapas is expected to come on stream in May at the latest. The system that uses both diesel and solar energy, can generate up to 100 megawatt of electricity.  TNB Distribution senior general manager (region two operation) Ir Azman Mohd said the system could supply electricity to eight commercial customers comprising resort operators on the island.
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Feb 27, 2007
Source: Reuters News

MADRID (Reuters) – The first part of a major 300 megawatt (MW) solar power operation in southern Spain is finished and could start producing electricity in April, its owner Abengoa said on Tuesday. The first of two solar thermal power plants is finished and now being prepared for production, with a capacity of 11 MW.

Construction of a second tower, with 20 MW of potential, started last year. Both use mirrors to concentrate the sun’s rays onto the top of a 100 meter (300 foot) tower where they produce steam to drive a turbine.  Santiago Seage, managing director of Abengoa’s solar division, said it was the first commercial plant in the world to use this technology.
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Move toward investing in solar power for retail outlets is delayed, according to people familiar with process.
by Martin LaMonica, Staff Writer, CNET News.com /February 28, 2007
Source: CNET News.com
http://news.com.com/Wal-Mart+stalls+solar-power+plan/2100-11392_3-6162850.html

Wal-Mart Stores’ choice of providers for a solar-power investment has been put off past its anticipated date, according to people familiar with the process. The retail giant at the end of last year put out a request for proposals to suppliers soliciting bids on what could be a large-scale installation of solar electric power at company stores.

Responses to bids, initially expected at the end of February, are being delayed, according to two people with knowledge of the situation. One company bidding on the deal said Wal-Mart’s decision has been put off four to six weeks, which would put the date for bid responses in April.
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Feb 16, 2007
Source:  Prensa Latina /Latin American News Agency
http://www.plenglish.com/Article.asp?ID=%7B4C2416F9-D969-4176-84B8-63E257020489%7D

Caracas,  (Prensa Latina) Venezuela has installed 87 photovoltaic systems (solar panels) in distant regions of the country as part of an energy diversification program underway in this rich South American country. The director of the Foundation for the Development of Electrical Service, Rafael Salazar, told the Bolivarian News Agency (ABN) that the so-called Energetic Revolution Mission will replace 52 million incandescent for energy saving bulbs.
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The Family YMCA of the Desert seemed the perfect showcase for the California Solar Initiative.

K Kaufmann /The Desert Sun / February 25, 2007
source: Desert Sun
http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070225/NEWS07/702250328/1006
With about $90,000 worth of solar panels and state rebates on the system, the Y’s Palm Desert building on San Pablo Avenue would be knocking about a third off its monthly energy bills – which can run between $4,000 and $5,000 during summer peak periods. The savings would go into tuition grants to help kids and families take part in Y programs, and set an example for Palm Desert businesses and residents to jump on board the city’s five-year plan to cut energy use 30 percent, said director Rob Ballew.

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By LARRY RULISON, Business writer /February 24, 2007
Source: Timesunion.com
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=566162

ALBANY — Solar energy experts gathered at the University at Albany this week to create a business and technology “road map” for the solar industry in New York state. Pradeep Haldar, director of the Energy and Environmental Technology Applications Center, said the goal will be to make New York state a leader again in solar energy — as it was 10 to 15 years ago.  “We need to get our act together because the opportunities are substantial,” he said at the gathering hosted by Haldar’s center, which is at UAlbany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. “It’s the largest growing energy business out there today.”
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