Solar Cells Info

London, Jan 20, 2007
Source: Zee News
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=348992&ssid=26&sid=ENV

Los Angeles-based Solar Integrated Technologies has struck a deal with British supermarket chain Tesco to build what it says is the world`s biggest roof-top solar panel installation. Solar Integrated said on Friday it had won a $13 million contract to put solar panels on the roof of Tesco USA`s new distribution centre in Riverside, California.
(more…)

$300M budgeted for energy subsidies
Peter Gorrie, Environment writer /January 19, 2007
Source: Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/172779

The federal Conservative government is to announce today a subsidy for electricity generated by wind, solar and other forms of renewable energy. The aid – called the EcoEnergy Renewable Power Initiative – will amount to less than a similar Liberal plan the Conservatives scrapped nearly a year ago, the Toronto Star has learned.

On Sunday, sources say, the federal government will unveil a revised version of the program that paid part of the cost when homeowners make their house more energy efficient. Today’s announcement on renewable energy is to be made in British Columbia by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn.
(more…)

Jan 9, 2007
source: Hoku Scientific Press release
http://www.shareholder.hokuscientific.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=224994

Pocatello, Idaho — Hoku Materials, a division of Hoku Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOKU), today announced it plans to build a $220 million polysilicon production plant in Pocatello with a payroll of 200 when the plant initiates operations. The City of Pocatello has reserved 450 acres of vacant land for Hoku’s facilities and future expansion. Subject to financing and other conditions, engineering and construction is planned to begin in the coming months and Hoku expects that the plant will be operational in late 2008.
(more…)

Source: Hoku Scientific Press release
http://www.shareholder.hokuscientific.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=226142

KAPOLEI, HI, Jan 18, 2007 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) — Hoku Materials, a division of Hoku Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOKU) established to manufacture polysilicon for the solar market, today announced the signing of a definitive contract with Sanyo Electric Company, Ltd., for the sale and delivery of polysilicon to SANYO over a seven-year period beginning in January 2009. Under the contract, up to approximately $370 million may be payable to Hoku during the seven-year period, subject to the achievement of milestones, the acceptance of product deliveries and other conditions. The contract provides for the delivery of predetermined volumes of polysilicon each year at set prices from January 2009 through December 2015. The contract also provides for an initial direct deposit of $2 million to Hoku upon signing and requires that SANYO place approximately 30% of the total purchase amount in an escrow account with Bank of Hawaii. Under the agreement, the escrowed funds are to be released to Hoku in installments, subject to Hoku’s successful achievement of certain polysilicon quality and production volume milestones and other conditions.
(more…)

Competitively priced solar modules deliver top-quality performance
Source: Press Release from SunWize Technologies
Kingston, New York, January 18, 2007

SunWize Technologies announces a new line of single crystalline modules with FM approval for Class I, Division 2, Groups A, B, C, and D, Hazardous (Classified) Locations. The new SunWize(R) SL series includes 6, 12 and 24-watt modules. Manufactured in accordance to ISO 9002 standards, SL modules carry a 10-year, 80% power output warranty. Bruce Gould, VP Sales, commented, “SL modules are very durable making them an excellent module for remote site locations. They are an integral part of our line of solar power solutions for industrial markets.”
(more…)

DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Program (SETP) will host a workshop on February 7, 2007
January 4, 2007
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
http://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOE/PAM/HQ/DOE%2DSNOTE%2D061227%2D001/Synopsis.html
http://www.irecusa.org/articles/static/1/1167933601_1018302029.html

The Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Program (SETP) will host a workshop on February 7, 2007 at the DoubleTree Hotel, 300 Army Navy Drive in Arlington, Virginia to identify and prioritize lists of potential PV research topics for inclusion in two proposed funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) directed primarily towards U.S. universities.  These opportunities are currently planned to be entitled “University Research & Development Support for SAI Technology Pathway Partnerships” and “Applied Research for Future Generation Solar Electric Technologies”. Both FOAs are currently planned for release by the DOE in the spring of 2007.
(more…)

The Solar 4R Schools (S4RS) program has a new online home:
http://www.solar4rschools.org/

The S4RS program, developed and managed by the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, educates students and teachers on the functions and benefits of solar electric power, an increasingly popular renewable resource. In addition to producing clean, renewable energy, each school’s solar power system includes a curriculum package that uses the web-based, real-time data generated by each installation to provide students with a comprehensive, interactive learning experience.

To complement the existing curriculum and teacher-training program, Solar4RSchols.org now provides participating schools with online access to lesson plans, presentations, and other useful classroom materials. The site consists of a series of interactive Web pages dedicated to each individual S4RS project.

By Joshua Boak /Toledo Blade Staff Writer /Dec 16, 2006
Source: Toledoblade.com
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061216/NEWS21/612160431

A University of Toledo-led team received an $18.6 million state grant to create facilities to develop and test solar power cells, the governor’s office announced yesterday. “It would be nice to say this was a wonderful Christmas gift,” UT President Dr. Lloyd Jacobs said. “But this was not a gift. This was an earned recognition of some people’s very hard work.” During the next three years, UT will get a total of $9 million from the Third Frontier Project, a $1.6 billion state program for nurturing a technology-based economy.
(more…)

Source:  Cornell University, Ithaca, New York  /December 6, 2006
http://www.irecusa.org/articles/static/1/1168971545_987099548.html

When you look at the lighted face of the McGraw Tower clock at night, think of the sun, because the sun now supplies the university with enough energy to light the tower. In late December workers completed the installation on the roof of Day Hall of solar panels that will generate slightly more electricity than is used by the clock tower lights, so the tower has been chosen to symbolize the new energy source.

The system was turned on and began feeding power into the university power grid Dec. 20. With 54 26-square-foot solar panels generating a peak 15 kilowatts (kw), it is the third largest solar array in Tompkins County after the Tompkins County Library, whose system is rated at 145 kw, and a recent apartment building installation rated at 16.7 kw. Eight similar panels, rated at 2.2 kw, will be installed over the loading dock of the Cornell Store. Total annual output of the Day Hall solar system is expected to be 20,000 to 25,000 kilowatt hours, with a value of up to $2,500. The Cornell Store system is expected to produce 1,500 to 1,800 kilowatt hours, worth about $150 to $180.
(more…)

Source: Connecticut Clean Energy Fund  /Press Release
January 16, 2007
http://www.irecusa.org/articles/static/1/1168970284_1018302029.html

Rocky Hill, CT, January 16, 2007— The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), Staples and SunEdison dedicated the largest solar power installation in New England at Staples’ 300,000-square-foot retail distribution center in Killingly, Conn. The solar power installation, built at no capital cost to Staples, was made possible through the collaborative effort of CCEF, which provided a $1.7 million grant for the project, and SunEdison, which financed the remaining costs of the project and designed and installed the system. Connecticut State Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) spoke at the event, as well as representatives from CCEF, Staples and SunEdison.
(more…)