Solar Cells Info

Posted by Harry Fuller /Courtesy EER / Feb 16, 2008
Source: ZDNet.com blog
http://blogs.zdnet.com/green/?p=808

A new study of the Concentrated Solar Power industry shows Europe to be far ahead, with major growth in the U.S. a couple years away. Emerging Energy Research found several reasons for the growth on Concenrtated Solar Power…but first a brief explanation. CSP uses reflectors to focus the sun’s energy, like using a hand magnifier to set paper on fire like you did when you were ten years old. Except this concentrated solar heat is focused on enclosed pipes containing oil or water that becomes steam. These superhot fluids are used to then drive turbines that generate electricity. In the CSP system the oil or water is reused. There are no by-products, no CO2. This goes a long way toward meeting Kyoto Protocol targets for co-operating nations in Europe and elsewhere. (more…)

by Amir Ben-Artzi, EE Times Europe,
Netanya, Israel, Feb 18, 2008
Source: EETimes Online
http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206800113

Pythagoras Solar Inc., a solar energy startup developing photovoltaic technology, has completed a $10 million series A financing round, led by Israel Cleantech Ventures and joined by Pitango Venture Capital and Evergreen Venture Partners.  Pythagoras Solar, the first company that was conceived and incubated within Precede Technologies, will use the funds for Israel-based R&D and global commercialization of its technology and products that are claimed to be able to change the economics of solar power. (more…)

by John G. Edwards, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Feb 17, 2008 /This story first appeared in the Business Press.
Source:  http://www.lvrj.com/business/15713407.html

Gene Cattaneo, a Las Vegas renewable-energy entrepreneur, believed solar power’s day was coming as surely as the sun would rise the next day.  Cattaneo called himself Mr. Solar, but he didn’t see his dream come true. A neighbor shot and killed Cattaneo in 2001 during an argument over the neighbor’s yard sales.  Had Mr. Solar only lived a few more years, he would have seen renewable energy grow from a niche business into an industry of significant economic size, advocates say. The dream of cheap, reliable solar power has yet to become a reality, but some say solar and other renewable energy sources are rapidly emerging as the fuel of the 21st century. (more…)

by Clare Peddie, Environment Reporter /Feb 19, 2008
Source: The Advertiser/AdelaideNow
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23236527-2682,00.html

ADELAIDE’S suburbs can be power stations within five years when solar roof panels and special glass windows become cost-effective, a former Adelaide thinker in residence says.  Urban ecologist Herbert Girardet says if three conditions are met each house can become a solar power station where houses produce more energy than they consume. These conditions are electricity prices going up, solar technology prices going down, and supportive policy in place, such as the State Government’s new feed-in laws that pay for excess electricity fed in to the grid. (more…)

Sam’s Club on Keeaumoku Street is first of four Wal-Mart locations in Hawaii
to receive solar power system
Honolulu, Hawaii, Jan 28, 2008
Source: SunEdison / press release
http://www.sunedison.com/images/press/012808-walmartHI.pdf

Representatives from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) and SunEdison today announced the completion of the first of four solar power systems in Hawaii as part  of a previously announced pilot program on the islands. The 283 kW DC solar power system at the  Sam’s Club on Keeaumoku Street was financed, constructed and will be maintained for Wal-Mart by  SunEdison under a solar power services agreement (SPSA). (more…)

Under Separate Joint Venture Agreements with Blue-Green Capital and Sunergy,  SunEdison Has Seven Megawatts Currently Under Construction
Beltsville, MD & Barcelona, Spain, January 30, 2008
Source: SunEdison/ press release
http://www.sunedison.com/images/press/013008-spain.pdf

SunEdison, a  leading global solar energy services provider, has started construction on seven  megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) solar power plants in Spain with joint venture  partners Sunergy and Blue-Green Capital. The four ground-mount solar power systems  will be completed by the third quarter of 2008.
(more…)

Beltsville, MD, Jan. 31, 2008
Source: SunEdison.com press release
http://www.sunedison.com/images/press/013108-Constellation.pdf

SunEdison, North America’s largest solar energy services provider, today announced a 15-year agreement to sell Constellation Energy Commodities Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG), an estimated four megawatts (MW) of solar renewable energy credits in Maryland. When completed, the installations covered under this agreement will provide 30 percent  of Maryland’s Renewable Portfolio Standard solar energy requirements in 2008, and almost 60 percent in 2009.
(more…)

By Joanne Ray, February 11, 2008
New England Construction Used to harness energy in Hingham, Mass., School.
Source: ACP Construction Data
http://www.acppubs.com/article/CA6529306.html

Exciting news hits Hingham, Mass., when middle school science teacher Andrea Stuart finds a simple way to introduce solar power to her students.   According to an article published in the Boston Globe on December 30, 2007, Stuart made a new discovery as she was playing around with software that collects data from the high school’s new solar voltaic roof panels.
(more…)

Chico, California, January 14, 2008
Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=51114

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., a craft brewing company based in California, has announced that it has commissioned the first phase of what will be one of the country’s largest private solar installations. This commissioning comes on the heels of the installation of four 250-kilowatt co-generation fuel cell power units, also one of the largest fuel cell installations in the United States.
(more…)

08 Feb 2008
Source: Pink Tentacle.com
http://www.pinktentacle.com/2008/02/jaxa-testing-space-solar-power-system/
Hokkaido Shimbun /http://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/environment/74756.html

For decades, scientists have explored the possibility of using space-based solar cells to power the Earth. Some see orbiting power stations as a clean and stable energy source that promises to slow global warming, while others dismiss the idea as an expensive and impractical solution to the world’s energy problems. While the discussion goes on, researchers at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have begun to develop the hardware.
(more…)