Solar Cells Info

Derek Sands /UPI /February 20, 2007
Source: Middle East Times
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070220-044724-3240r

CAIRO —  Egypt may soon harness the same physics that a child uses to burn an ant with a magnifying glass, to generate electricity from the sun, a move that reflects the growth of Concentrating Solar Power technology worldwide. Plans to build a 150 megawatt (MW) combined solar- and gas-powered electric plant near Cairo are part of a larger effort by Egypt, and others in the region, to expand their use of renewable energies, including solar, wind, and nuclear power.

The Egyptian project, set to be built in Kuraymat, 104 kilometers (65 miles) south of Cairo, will use parabolic-trough Concentrating Solar Power, a technology that has been used on a limited scale for more than 20 years, but has recently attracted attention in the Middle East because of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and due to concerns over the future of petroleum supplies.
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* ErSol sets the first machines in place in new thin film production
* Nominal capacity of 40 MWp planned as early as end of 2007

source: ErSol Solar Energy AG / press release 18 Dec 2006
http://www.ersol.de/en/pm.php?type=pm&id=125&year=2006

The first production machines were today brought into place at ErSol Thin Film GmbH, a subsidiary of the ErSol Group, at its new factory for amorphous thin film modules in Erfurt. This marks the start of the tool-move-in phase for production facilities following a five-month construction period. “The first machine to be installed will be the ‘Kai 1200’ type PECVD coating plant built by Swiss Oerlikon Solar, a global leader in thin film and vacuum technology. In future this will enable us to deposit the amorphous silicon layer on the glass substrate,” Dr. Lutz Mittelstädt, Managing Director of ErSol Thin Film GmbH, enthusiastically describes this first stage in the construction of the new facility at the Erfurt Freight Traffic Centre. Machines and systems are due to be set in place in a further five phases in the coming months. These include the so-called TCO (transparent conductive oxide) systems, laser cutting systems and related systems for the production of thin film solar modules.

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House of Representatives passes new legislation enabling the installation of a solar energy system on Federal building.

by Sara Parker, Staff Writer, Washington, DC  / February 14, 2007
source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=47438

In many scenarios by leading renewable energy experts and advocates, placing solar systems on all Federal buildings has long been on the list of breakthrough strategies to boost the U.S. solar power industry through government procurement. That scenario is now one step closer to becoming a reality with the Solar Net project.  On Monday, the House of Representatives passed new legislation for the installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) building — with hopes that the project will serve as a model for other government buildings.

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Article by Neil Thomas  / Feb. 16, 2007-
source: Univ Delaware Daily
http://www.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2007/feb/boer021607.html

Lawrence L. Kazmerski, director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colo., will receive the 2007 Karl Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit during a ceremony to be held at 3 p.m., Thursday, April 5, in Gore Recital Hall of the Center for the Arts at the University of Delaware. The medal and a cash award of $40,000, funded by the Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit Trust, is given every two years to an individual who has made significant pioneering contributions to the promotion of solar energy as an alternate source of energy through research, development or economic enterprise or to an individual who has made extraordinarily valuable and enduring contributions to the field of solar energy in other ways.
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The spherical concept results in efficiency and new possibilities

Source: Kyosemi website:
http://www.kyosemi.co.jp/product/pro_ene_sun_e1.html

The reason why a room does not become dark even if it does not receive direct sunlight is a variety of reflected and diffused light. However, conventional flat solar cells were unable to effectively harness this indirect light. In addition, the sun takes on a many different positions according to the season and time of day, so in order to obtain a stable supply of power, there was a need to change the orientation of the solar cell by constantly following the sun. Sphelar® captures light from all directions, which means it can catch reflected light and diffused light. In addition, there is no need for the superfluous operation of tracking the sun. The spherical light-receiving surfaces achieve unprecedented high generation efficiency.

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By Julie M. McKinnon, Toledo Blade Business writer /February 14, 2007
Source: Toledo Blade
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070214/BUSINESS03/702140390

Toledo-born First Solar Inc. was in the black for the first time in its two-decade history last year, with profits of $4 million, or 7 cents a share. The Phoenix solar panel manufacturer, which has its sole factory in Perrysburg Township, had sales of $135 million last year. That was an increase of 181 percent from 2005, when sales were $48.1 million and the firm had a loss of $6.5 million.

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SUNPARK CHALLENGE – Guelph Hydro Inc expands its support of renewable energy
source: Sun Park /press release
http://www.sunpark.ca/pressrelease/Press%20Release%20Feb%2012

February 12, 2007 (Guelph,Ontario) – Guelph Hydro Inc, the parent company of Guelph Hydro Electric Systems Inc and Ecotricity Guelph Inc, today announced that it will support The Sunpark Challenge, an ambitious project to develop Canada’s first solar park. The Sunpark Challenge, lead by Sunpark Energy Corp. is inviting Canadian corporations to create a better planet for future generations by sponsoring the solar panels that make up the solar park.

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3GSM Motorola is trialling the use of wind and solar powered generators as an alternative to diesel power for remote GSM cell sites.

By John Leyden /14th February 2007
Source: The Register
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/14/moto_green_gsm_cell/

MTC Namibia will run the alternative power system between April 2007 and July 2007 in what’s promoted as the first-ever trial of the technology on a live network. The trial, supported by the GSM Association, involves the installation of the Motorola wind and solar system at an operational MTC Namibia cell site.
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World’s largest marine retailer selects superior products tailored for boaters

Source. ICP Solar /press release Feb 12 2007
http://www.icpsolar.com/4105/news_details.asp?news_id=20

Montreal, Canada, February 12, 2007 – ICP Solar Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: ICPR), a developer, manufacturer and marketer of solar cells and products, announced today that it has expanded its partnership with West Marine, the world’s largest specialty retailer of boating supplies and apparel, by enlarging the range of Sunsei™ Brand solar charger products available at West Marine stores.
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by AER Staff/ 16 February 2007
Source: Alternative Energy
http://www.aer-online.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.288

Senators Gordon Smith, R-Ore., and Ken Salazar, D-Colo., have introduced legislation to the Securing America’s Energy Independence Act (S.590), which would extend and expand solar energy investment tax credits for homeowners and businesses through 2016. Under the current law, the credits are set to expire at the end of next year.  The Energy Policy Act of 2005 provided a 30% tax credit for solar systems purchased for both residential and business applications. According to the government officials, these credits will expire after two years without legislative remedy – a term too short to encourage significant industry growth.
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