Solar Cells Info

Asia Pulse, November 19, 2007
Source: News from LexisNexis /Semiconductor International
http://www.semiconductor.net/articleXml/LN703468440.html

Ulvac Inc. (www.ulvac.com) is gearing up to mass produce manufacturing equipment for thin-film solar cells.  The company spent 3 billion yen ($27US.2 million) to build a dedicated production line for the manufacturing equipment in its main plant in Kanagawa Prefecture. Installation was completed in September. At present, mass production of solar cells is being tested and production quality is being confirmed. (more…)

Toronto, November 7, 2007
Source: Opel International, press release
http://opelinc.com/invest.htm

Opel International, a leading, global developer and supplier of concentrating photovoltaic panels (CPVs), today announced it has entered into an exclusive agreement with FEiNA SCP to OEM and market FEiNA’s full line of solar trackers in Canada, the United States, Mexico and Brazil. The solar trackers designed by FEiNA provide an exceptionally high degree of accuracy in tracking the sun’s movement and maximizing the performance of all types of solar panels. These solar trackers can be used in combination with both conventional silicon flat plate panels as well as with different types of CPVs.
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Toronto, Ontario, Nov. 15, 2007
Source: Opel International Inc. press release
http://opelinc.com/invest.htm

OPEL International Inc. (TSX VENTURE:OPL), a leading, global developer and supplier of high efficiency concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) panels , today announced that it has entered into an agreement with ENERGY 21 for a series of installations of OPEL’s state-of-the-art CPV panels in Central Europe. Under the terms of the agreement, ENERGY 21 will install progressively larger systems in the Czech Republic leading to the installation of its first large solar farm in 2008 and 2009. The systems will use OPEL’s Mk-I high concentration CPVs in combination with FEiNA’s solar trackers that OPEL will supply under the provisions of its OEM agreement  with FEiNA. (more…)

Source: Construction and Maintenance News /Nov 16, 2007
http://home.nestor.minsk.by/build/news/2007/11/1701.html

Kyocera Solar, Inc., a supplier of environmentally friendly photovoltaic (PV) systems, announced the completion of a 96.4-kilowatt solar electric generating system atop the newly redesigned Children’s Museum San Diego (CMSD). The system, composed of 576 Kyocera 200-watt PV modules, was designed and installed by Independent Energy Solutions, Inc. (IES) of Vista, California, and is expected to generate approximately 136,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year.
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Allison Bruce / Scripps Howard News Service
Westlake Village, California, November 17, 2007
Source: Detroitnews
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071117/AUTO03/711170301/1149/auto03

The curved roof of the Toyota Prius in front of the Solar Electrical Systems office is covered with 146 dark, 4-inch-square solar cells. When Greg Johanson first had the idea to give the hybrid car a bit of solar electrical energy, he didn’t know what a challenge that curved roof would present. Johanson’s company had to embed the solar cells into fiberglass and custom mold it.  Tapping the roof, Johanson called the Prius the “worst vehicle” for testing his concept. “I have a habit of doing things backwards,” he said. “If we could make the worst vehicle work, the easy vehicle should be easy.” The company soon will be producing solar panels for Toyota’s Rav4 EV and Highlander, two vehicles with very flat roofs. (more…)

Source: Ad-hoc-news.de  /07 Nov 2007
http://www.ad-hoc-news.de/CorporateNews/en/14078216/Mendota-to-Host-Giant-Photovoltaic-Solar-Farm-Developed-by

With higher than average days of sunshine, younger than average population, and enthusiastic support for green energy projects, the City of Mendota has been selected the site of what will be the largest solar farm in California providing emission-free photovoltaic (PV) solar electricity to an investor-owned utility, Mayor Robert Silva announced.  The 5 megawatt (MW) utility-scale solar facility, dubbed “CalRENEW-1,” is being developed by San Francisco-based Cleantech America Inc., and will sell electricity to Pacific Gas & Electric under a power purchase agreement. Scheduled to begin operation in the spring of 2009, CalRENEW-1 will provide environmental, economic and educational benefits to the Central Valley, in addition to new jobs creation. (more…)

Boston, MA,  November 16, 2007
Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50590

MassDevelopment announced the closing of $3,129,300 in federally sponsored Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREB) issued on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to support the installation of photovoltaic cells at twelve facilities across the state including schools and correctional facilities.  “Governor Patrick and I consider the CREBs bonds issued by MassDevelopment an essential tool for helping state agencies invest in renewable energy and lead by example toward a clean energy future for the Commonwealth.”  –Ian Bowles, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs
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Nov 13, 2007
Source: Hotelinteractive.com
http://www.hotelinteractive.com/hi_index.asp?page_id=5000&article_id=9243

Xanterra Parks & Resorts (www.xanterra.com) has announced it will install one of the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems in the country – and the largest system in the U.S. tourism industry – in Death Valley National Park, the sunniest place in the country. The one megawatt (MW) system will harness the sun’s energy to generate more than one-third of the annual electricity needs for Xanterra’s operations there, comprised of the Furnace Creek Inn, Ranch and golf course and employee offices and housing.
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By Amanda Gronau, Nov 14, 2007
Source. EMSNow.com
http://www.emsnow.com/npps/story.cfm?id=30169&pg=story

It’s cold. It’s wet. There’s snow on the ground and in the air and the sky is pewter grey. The sun is 93 million miles away and frankly, you can feel every single mile. That is, until you walk into the massive Hall B5, where the atmosphere is buzzing with the potential of solar energy.   Photovoltaics (PV), the conversion of solar light into usable energy, is a fast growing sector, and amazingly enough, it’s a huge industry in Germany.  This has its roots in the late 1990s, with an environmentally-sensitive government campaign to put solar panels onto the German population’s roofs. By the regulations of the “10,000 roof” program, those who chose to install solar panels received government credits to set against the installation costs. The campaign was so successful that it was fast followed by the “100,000 roof” programme, but it wasn’t until 2000 that things really took off.
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Company Teams with MMA Renewable Ventures to Add Clean Power to Northern California Grid
San Francisco, CA, October 16, 2007
Source: GAP Inc press release
http://gapinc.com/public/Media/Press_Releases/med_pr_solar101607.shtml

Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) today announced plans to host a one megawatt (MW) solar power system at its West Coast distribution center in Fresno, Calif. Slated for completion next year, the system is expected to generate approximately 1.9 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually – equivalent to the electricity required to power approximately 350 homes.   The system will occupy five acres of land adjacent to Gap Inc.’s distribution center campus and will be financed, owned and operated by MMA Renewable Ventures, LLC, a subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC (NYSE: MMA).  Under the terms of a long term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), Gap Inc. will buy predictably priced power from MMA Renewable Ventures for the next 20 years, shielding the company from rising energy costs.
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