Solar Cells Info

By Tessa Salazar, Inquirer /with Cyril L. Bonabente, Inquirer Research
Manila, Philippines, August 8, 2007
Source: Inquirer.net
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/sports/view_article.php?article_id=81411

In an ironical twist, tropical storm “Chedeng” postponed the scheduled unveiling on Wednesday of a Philippine-made solar-powered car named Sinag (sun ray), designed to compete in a 3,000-kilometer race in Australia.  But despite the shadow of Chedeng — also Filipino street slang for a Mercedez Benz — Sinag’s creators from the De La Salle University (DSLU) still feel sunny about their chances in the 20th Panasonic World Solar Challenge, an eight-day race across the Australian outback this October.
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By: Briony Smith, IT World Canada , 17 Aug 2007
Source: ITWorld Canada.com
http://www.itworldcanada.com/a/News/cd6b854b-b9b1-4f7a-887f-621edbc3b47c.html

Queen’s University’s solar-powered vehicle program just got a great boost in its quest to craft the best solar vehicle in the world, thanks to Lenovo’s donation of some high-end hardware.  Queen’s has a long-standing stake in the world of solar-powered vehicle racing, having hosted a team for the last two decades. The university’s Solar Vehicle Team, led by senior engineering student Jonathan Mash, is in the process of putting the finishing touches on Aurum, the university’s eleventh solar vehicle. Come autumn, the eight-man team will maneuver the vehicle 3,000 km down the length of Australia, from Darwin to Adelaide, in the World Solar Challenge.
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Entrepreneurs race to claim title of largest power plant
August 15, 2007
By Viktor Velek, Staff Writer
Source: Prague Post Online
http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2007/08/15/

Czechs, who for a long-time have been inert to the energy potential of the sun, are suddenly turning into solar energy enthusiasts. Although the country is covered by an oft-clouded sky that allows in relatively modest sunlight, more and more companies are seeking to harness the sun, leading to a boom of solar powe plant construction. Sun farms are mushrooming as the use of renewable energy sources has become a matter of state concern — and state funding. Companies have been leapfrogging one another in a race for what each invariably calls “the biggest Czech solar power plant.” (more…)

By Matthew Knight for CNN
London, England (CNN), August 15, 2007
Source: CNN Future
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/08/15/fs.solarbikini/

Over the past 20 years technology has been shrinking in size as fast as it has been expanding our communication and entertainment horizons.  Designer and inventor of the solar bikini Andrew Schneider estimates that you can charge your iPod shuffle in around two hours.  Today’s latest gadgets are so refined and petite that they clip on to a belt or slip easily into a pocket or a bag. The next challenge confronting designers and engineers is to make technology not only portable but also wearable.
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By AIDAN LEWIS, Associated Press Writer
ALGIERS, Algeria / August 11, 2007
Source: Associated Press/ The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6843377,00.html

It’s a vision that has long enticed energy planners: solar panels stretching out over vast swaths of the Sahara desert, soaking up sun to generate clean, green power.  Now Algeria, aware that its oil and gas riches will one day run dry, is gearing up to tap its sunshine on an industrial scale for itself and even Europe.

Work on its first plant began late last month at Hassi R’mel, 260 miles south of Algiers, the capital. The plant will be a hybrid, using both sun and natural gas to generate 150 megawatts. Of that, 25 megawatts will come from giant parabolic mirrors stretching over nearly 2 million square feet – roughly 45 football fields.
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Cardiff, 15 Aug 2007
Source: NewsWales.co.uk
http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Community&F=1&id=12283

Wales is to make it easier to instal solar panel and wind turbines in Welsh homes. The Assembly Government aims to reduce the need for planning permission for such equipment, helping people and local communities to tackle climate change.

Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, Jane Davidson, said today: “Achieving sustainable energy production and consumption is key to tackling climate change, which is my number one priority. “I am putting forward these proposals to lift any potential barriers to allow for greater micro-generation in Wales.”
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Pfaffikon, Switzerland, July 26, 2007
Source: Businesswire/digital50.com
http://digital50.com/news/items/BW/2001/07/14/20070725006446/

Oerlikon Solar, leading global supplier of field-proven thin film production equipment, announced today it has signed a contract with Taiwan’s CMC Magnetics Corp. (CMC) for the supply of a 40-MWp thin-film solar cell production plant. This deal marks Oerlikon Solar’s first major order in Asia-Pacific and further highlights customer confidence in the thin-film solar global market leader’s technology. The first components will be shipped to CMC this year and production is planned for mid-2008. (more…)

Irvine, CA, Aug. 8, 2007
Source: PrimeNewswire/Money.CNN.com
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/primenewswire/124525.htm

Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq:MSCC), a leading manufacturer of high performance analog mixed signal integrated circuits and high reliability semiconductors, has introduced a new line of standard power modules for solar inverters utilizing its space saving compact SP3 package. The eight new Microsemi solar inverter modules feature full bridge configurations combining low saturation “Trench & Field Stop” IGBT top switches with fast NPT IGBT bottom switches for unipolar switching. The top IGBTs operate at line frequency, while the bottom IGBTs switch at frequencies from 15 kHz to 50 kHz. Total losses are minimized, enabling maximum solar inverter efficiency. (more…)

Bendigo, July 19, 2007
Source: Treasury Dept of Govt. of Central Victoria, Press release
http://www.treasurer.gov.au/tsr/content/pressreleases/2007/064.asp

Central Victoria is the location of the fifth successful Solar City in Australia, the Treasurer, Peter Costello, and Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Malcolm Turnbull announced today. The Central Victorian Solar City consortium will receive up to $15 million in Australian Government funding to help change the way individuals, communities, businesses and governments think about and use energy. (more…)

Tucson, Az, July 30, 2007
Source: Tucson Electric Power, press release
http://www.tucsonelectric.com/Company/News/PressReleases/ReleaseTemplate.asp?idRec=281

Tucson Electric Power (TEP) has been awarded a $100,000 federal grant for developing new methods to evaluate how effectively solar energy systems can replace traditional utility generating resources. The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar America Initiative, which supports research and development efforts to encourage the use of solar energy. (more…)