Solar Cells Info

Brett Gundlock/ January 10, 2007
Source: Cochrane Times
http://www.cochranetimes.com/News/279717.html

The Sustainable Development Committee at Cochrane High School completed phase two of their project, Monday Jan. 8 when they installed ten more solar panels at their school. The new panels will run the school’s scoreboard in the gym. There are currently 30 panels, which were put up in phase 1 of the groups project and they contribute 1 per cent of the schools electricity.  The new panels are rated at 125 volts, opposed to the old ones that are rated at 110 volts. The committee saw the price of the panels fall over the two years since they bought the old ones.  The committee raised $30,000, most of the money came from grants.
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Jan 11 2007
source: Barbadosadvocate.com
http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=29456

BARBADOS’ largest solar energy provider, Solar Dynamics Ltd., is firmly behind the decision by Government to promote the use of renewable energy. Minister of Energy and the Environment, Elizabeth Thompson, recently unveiled the draft Barbados National Energy Policy, which seeks to preserve this country’s environment by focusing on reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and facilitating the creation of a renewable energy society and economy. Specifically, the document outlines the target of generating 25 per cent of national energy through renewable energy by 2026. This goal will be achieved in part by allowing independent power producers, utilising renewable energy technology, to sell electricity to the national grid, Thompson said.
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By AARON NATHANS, The News Journal/ January 7, 2007
Source: Delawareonline
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070107/NEWS/701070366

SEABROOK, N.J. — A refrigerator repairman with a modest home backing onto a spinach farm, Bob May doesn’t appear to be the kind of fellow who can afford to go solar. Renewable-energy advocates love solar energy, but acknowledge it hasn’t caught on more because it’s expensive. It takes between $50,000 and $80,000 to buy the equipment to power a single-family home. But last winter, May and his father installed 60 solar panels, largely paid for by the state, in the yard of his southern New Jersey residence. These days, the electric meter in front of his house is running backward, as he generates so much solar power he’s selling what he doesn’t use back to the electric company. “To some people it’s an eyesore,” said May. “This isn’t anything new. It’s been around for a while. It’s just become more affordable.”
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United Solar Ovonic Supplies 700kW of Uni-Solar(R) PV Laminates to Solar Integrator American Energy Technologies

Source: UniSolar press release, Jan 10, 2007
http://www.uni-solar.com/newsdetail.asp?id=189

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — United Solar Ovonic, a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD Ovonics) (NASDAQ: ENER) , announced today that it has supplied 700 kW of photovoltaic (PV) laminates to TurtleEnergy LLC for installation by American Energy Technologies, Inc. on a 350,000-sq.-ft. building leased by East Coast Warehouse & Distribution from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. American Energy Technologies, one of the fastest growing solar integrators in the U.S., was chosen to manage all aspects of the installation from the design phase through the commissioning of the system.
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Solar Power Partners enables commercial building owners to access green energy without investing their own capital

Source: Solar Power Partners press release / Jan 9, 2007
http://www.solarpowerpartners.com/pressreleases.html

San Francisco, Calif. /January 9, 2007 — Solar Power Partners, Inc. (SPP), a developer, owner and operator (DOO) of a distributed network of commercial solar energy facilities (SEF), today formally initiated its Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) program for mid-size commercial buildings in California. This announcement coincides with the establishment of SPP LLC1, a renewable energy fund for investing in California commercial solar energy facilities of up to 100KW/AC.
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Agreement could save schools $2.5 million in electricity costs during 20-year contract
By Eric Louie /CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Pleasanton, Jan. 10, 2007
Source: Contracosta Times
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/16425310.htm

A company will place solar panels at seven Pleasanton schools and then sell the energy back to the school district, as part of an agreement both sides see as an emerging trend. Sandra Lepley, assistant superintendent of business, said the agreement with New Jersey-based Honeywell, will save the district $2.5 million in electricity costs during the 20-year contract. The school board unanimously approved the agreement in June, with the panels to be installed by October.
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As Energy Costs Rise, Solar Power Continues to Gain Acceptance in Orange County
Source: Akeena Solar Press Releases
http://www.akeena.net/cm/About_Akeena_Solar/Press%20Releases.html
LOS GATOS, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 10, 2007

Akeena Solar, Inc. (OTC BB: AKNS), a leading designer and installer of solar power systems, has opened an Orange County regional office to serve the exponentially growing demand for solar energy among residential and commercial customers in the area. According to the California Energy Commission, the market for photovoltaic systems in Orange County has been experiencing an average 190 percent growth rate since 2003.
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Source: GiroSolar press release
http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/070108/0200640.html

DEVENTER, THE NETHERLANDS — (MARKET WIRE) — January 08, 2007 — GiraSolar, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: GRSR) (FRANKFURT: L2I) is pleased to announce its subsidiary GiraSolar Turkey Ltd. received invitations to participate in electrification project on two Turkish islands. Erol Barendrecht, resident MD of GST, stated: “It is a great honour to have been selected to participate in these projects and a reward for our continuing efforts to bring solar into the spotlight in Turkey. It is also recognition for our team and their skill that we are now allowed to design these complex energy systems, involving solar, wind and grid or generator power, to assure reliable energy supply. These systems will be important demonstrations of how alternative energy in general and solar specifically fit into a more secure and diversified energy supply system for the entire region. Furthermore, the use of a lease construction in one of the projects is a first in Turkey and a major breakthrough in financing projects.”
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Special Correspondent The Hindu
Source: The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/06/stories/2007010606380500.htm

BANGALORE: In a bid to increase the efficiency of solar energy devices, the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has launched a scheme to provide 100 per cent funding to institutes that are working on the research and development aspects of solar photovoltaic cells. Addressing presspersons here on Friday, New and Renewable Energy Secretary V. Subramanian said the focus was to increase the energy convertibility rate of solar energy devices from the present 13 per cent. “It will be a great achievement even if we can increase the convertibility by 2 per cent,” he said. Efforts are on to increase the convertibility rate to 25 per cent by using different material to manufacture solar photovoltaic cells instead of silicon.

In Karnataka, the Indian Institute of Science was working on increasing the efficiency of photovoltaic cells, he said. Mr. Subramanian announced that the country was set to increase its renewable energy capacity from 9,000 MW to 10,000 MW by the end of March. This had become possible due to the increase in the wind energy generation. As against the target of adding wind energy of 3,075 MW by the end of the 10th five-year plan; the country had added 5,000 MW.

XsunX Expands Technology Portfolio – Patent-Pending Plasma Technology May Reduce Industry Wide Manufacturing Bottlenecks

Wednesday January 3, 2:32 pm ET
Source: Press Release XsunX, Inc.
http://biz.yahoo.com/pz/070103/111169.html

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Jan. 3, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) — XsunX, Inc. (OTC BB:XSNX.OB – News), developer of advanced manufacturing systems and cell structures for solar energy, announced today it has entered into a technology development and licensing agreement with Charlotte, NC based Sencera, a developer of next generation plasma sources. Using funds provided by XsunX, Sencera will develop a thin film solar cell manufacturing process using its patent-pending plasma technology. The purpose of the cooperative agreement, and XsunX’s interest in licensing of Sencera’s next generation plasma technology, is the expectation that the new process will significantly increase production rates for the manufacture of deposited thin film solar cells. The technology offers an opportunity to reduce manufacturing bottlenecks, which are projected to reduce the manufactured cost per peak watt to less than US$1, an industry-wide goal.
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