Solar Cells Info

Tokyo, February 5, 2008
Source: Asahi Glass Co. press release
http://www.agc.co.jp/english/news/2008/0205e_3.pdf

Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. (Head office: Tokyo; President & CEO: Masahiro Kadomatsu) has decided to enhance glass production facilities for solar cells. Spending about 13 billion yen in total, Asahi Glass will establish a new furnace for the cover glass of solar cells (production capacity: 240 tons/day; 7 million m²/year) and an AR coating line at subsidiary AGC Flat Glass (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (Head office: Suzhou, Jiangsu, China), as well as
set up an additional TCO coating line (production capacity: 6 million m²/year) at the Aichi plant (Taketoyo-cho, Chita-gun, Aichi Prefecture). The cover glass production facility is expected to start mass production in the
second quarter 2009 and the TCO coating line in the fourth quarter 2008.
(more…)

Washington, February 8, 2008
Source: Thaindiannews.com
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/
louis-palmers-solar-taxi-arrives-down-under_10016762.html

Swiss adventurer Louis Palmers Solar Taxi has made its way to Australian capital Canberra.  Palmer has travelled over 15923 kilometres in his custom made solar-powered car since he started his around the world tour in July last year to raise awareness about climate change.  The adventurer whose trip has been a momentous one, from royal passengers, vehicle breakdowns and rainy days aims to demonstrate what one can do to prevent global warming. (more…)

Source:  Fraunhofer ISE & Solarserver.de /17 Jan 2008
http://www.solarserver.de/solarmagazin/news-e.html#news107

A maximum efficiency rating of 98.5 percent for photovoltaic inverters has been achieved by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in a test using prototype silicon carbide-based MOSFETs manufactured by CREE, Inc., USA. These are the highest efficiency results reported for photovoltaic inverters to date, ISE reports in a press release. (more…)

United Arab Emirates, Jan 27, 2009
Source: AMEInfo.com
http://www.ameinfo.com/144853.html

SolFocus, Inc., whose mission is to enable solar energy generation at cost parity with fossil fuels, announced its first major launch into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with its exhibit at the Future World Energy Summit 2008 in Abu Dhabi.  SolFocus showcased its Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) solar technology, which is ideally suited to providing the highest energy output and lowest cost of any solar technology available.
(more…)

by Michael Clancy, The Arizona Republic
Phoenix, AZ, Jan 14, 2008
Source: AZCentral.com
http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/0114phxsolar0114.html

The city is moving ahead on becoming a solar-friendly city. Already the city has solar installations at nine locations and a large project about to be installed in downtown Phoenix.  Further, the city has applied to the federal government for a $200,000 matching grant to promote solar energy.
(more…)

Mass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology, January 25, 2008
Source: Bizjournals.com
http://www.bizjournals.com/masshightech/stories/2008/01/21/daily33.html

Bay State photovoltaic manufacturer Evergreen Solar Inc. is working with the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co. (MMWEC) to advance solar power opportunities for customers of Massachusetts municipal utilities, according to officials.  The pair intends to install pilot photovoltaic systems on schools, public buildings and other high-profile sites in communities served by municipal utilities. The aim of the installations is to serve as a visual statement of MMWEC’s commitment to solar power in conjunction with Governor Deval Patrick’s “Commonwealth Solar” program, according to Marlborough-based Evergreen Solar.
(more…)

I-Net Bridge, Jan 23, 2008
Source: The Times of Zambia
http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=690040

Embattled energy utility Eskom intends to incentivise electricity users for switching from coal-generated electricity to solar power, South African state news agency BuaNews said. The report comes as South Africans face at least five years of power shortages as Eskom upgrades its electricity generation capacity to cater for booming demand. According to Eskom, the solar incentive programme will centre on solar water heating, which energy experts say account for between 30% and 50% of household electricity consumption. The incentive scheme, which could be rolled out within weeks, will see the selling price of solar systems reduced.
(more…)

by Gertrude Majyambere and John Gahamanyi
Kigali, 24 Jan 2008
Source: AllAfrica.com
http://allafrica.com/stories/200801240096.html

The European Union (EU) has pledged $10m (Frw7.9b) to supply rural areas with electricity. At the ministry of finance, on January 22, James Musoni, Rwandan minister of finance and economic planning, and Ambassador Dr. David MacRea, Head of Delegation of the European Commission, signed an agreement for a new energy programme that will cost Frw14b. The project will be financed on an equal basis by the government and the EU. Electricity will be supplied to rural health centres and schools through solar power and micro-hydro electricity plants.
(more…)

By Jennifer Sudick, Star Bulletin / Jan 22, 2008
Source: Star Bulletin
http://starbulletin.com/2008/01/22/business/story03.html

Hawaii will soon be home to two of the largest solar power systems in North America.  Hoku Scientific Inc. and James Campbell Co. yesterday announced plans to build a solar power plant near the Campbell Industrial Park that will be capable of generating 1.5 megawatts of photovoltaic power, making it Hoku’s largest project to date. The company is currently working on installing a 167-kilowatt solar power system at the Hawaiian Electric Co.’s Ward Avenue substation, as well as projects with Paradise Beverages Inc. and Bank of Hawaii.
(more…)

by Kimone Thompson, Sunday Observer, January 20, 2008
Source:The Jamaica Observer
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/
20080119T140000-0500_131589_OBS_SOME_JAMAICANS_BASKING_IN_SOLAR_ENERGY_.asp

WHILE most Jamaicans were ruing missed television programmes, the loss of unsaved computer data and wilting under uncomfortable heat on account of the recent islandwide blackout, there were a handful of persons who didn’t notice there was no electricity.  It was only when Michael Drakulich and Patricia Isaacs-Green, both of whom live in St Ann, and Kingstonians Dr Willard Pinnock and Paul Beswick saw that their neighbours’ houses were in darkness that they realised there was a power outage. And had they not installed alternative sources of power in their homes and business places years earlier, they would’ve been in darkness too.
(more…)