Solar Cells Info

· Clean-tech revolution in country without oil or gas
· Project also includes wave and wind power
by John Vidal, Lisbon, June 6 2008
Source: Guardian UK
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/06/renewableenergy.alternativeenergy

From a distance the bizarre structures sprouting from the high Alentejo plain in eastern Portugal resemble a field of mechanical sunflowers. Each of the 2,520 giant solar panels is the size of a house and they are as technically sophisticated as a car. Their reflective heads tilt to the sky at a permanent 45 degrees as they track the sun through 240 degrees every day.

The world’s largest solar photovoltaic farm, generating electricity straight from sunlight, is taking shape near Moura, a small town in a thinly populated and impoverished region which boasts the most sunshine per square metre a year in Europe. When fully commissioned later this year, the £250m farm set on abandoned state-owned land will be twice the size of any other similar project in the world, covering an area nearly twice the size of London’s Hyde park. It is expected to supply 45MW of electricity each year, enough to power 30,000 homes. (more…)

HSBC’s Canary Wharf office tower is the tallest corporate headquarter building in Europe to feature solar panels
3 Jun 2008
Source; HSBC PRDomain press release
http://www.prdomain.com/companies/H/HSBC/newsreleases/20086457728.htm

HSBC’s Canary Wharf office tower is the tallest corporate headquarter building in Europe to feature solar panels. Covering 617 square metres of the roof of the building, it is also the largest installation of photovoltaic panels on a corporate office in London.  HSBC’s energy saving measure illustrates the bank’s latest commitment to reducing its impact on the environment since it became carbon neutral in 2005. At 213 metres (700 feet) high, building engineers developed fixing techniques for the 422 solar panels to withstand wind speeds of up to 140 mph. (more…)

May 28, 2008
Source: Menova Energy Inc, press release
http://www.power-spar.com/Power-Spar/press.php

The Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI) and Wal-Mart Canada announced today that they are pursuing a project with Menova Energy that would provide up to $5.9 million to support the demonstration of the company’s world-leading Power-Spar solar concentrator technology. The intention is to test and install the technology on the roof of a Wal-Mart store in Ontario, yet to be selected or constructed. (more…)

By Tom Vogt, The Columbian
Vancouver, WA, June 5, 2008
Source: SeattleTimes
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004458579_greenschools05m.html

The playground is an energy-enhanced spot, and not just because of the kids climbing on the play structure.  The answer is on the roof of the playground shelter, where a series of rectangles face the sun. They’re solar panels. They soak up power, then pipe it from the campus of the Washington State School for the Blind into the region’s electrical grid. The solar panels are part of Washington’s effort to get state institutions involved in renewable energy. Washington State School for the Blind received its grant a year ago.
(more…)

by Martin LaMonica,  June 4, 2008
Source: CNet News.com
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9959586-54.html

FTL Solar on Wednesday announced it has raised capital to make flexible solar cells for buildings that generate electricity.  The company envisions that its structures, called PowerMods, can be used as battery-charging stations, parking lot canopies, disaster relief shelters, remote medical stations, and for military bases. (more…)

by Kevin Swayze, RECORD STAFF /June 05, 2008
Source: The Record.com
http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/361803

A gravel pit is a better place to build a solar electricity generating operation than a proposed farmland site along Highway 401, a township councillor says.  “It’s not using this land to its potential at all . . . it’s a shame to use it this way,” said Gord Taylor, a farmer who was uneasy with what he saw as loss of prime farmland.  Taylor was speaking at a township council meeting called to hear details of a proposal for an eventual $24 million array of solar panels on Tim Barrie’s farm on King’s Road near Highway 401.
(more…)

by Terry Parris, Jr.
Source: MetromodeMedia.com, 6/5/2008
http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/annarborsolar0071.aspx

This summer, when you go to Ann Arbor’s Farmers Market, be sure to check out the roof. It’ll be covered in innovation and alternative energy. The 156 solar panels that will be placed on the roof of the market will be the most substantial solar installation to date for the city of Ann Arbor. (more…)

Santa Clara, CA, May 30, 2008
Source: Applied Materials, press release/BusinessWire
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=112059&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1152039

As part of its Masdar Initiative, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. is significantly expanding its investment in solar energy by contracting with Applied Materials to purchase three SunFab(TM) Thin Film Lines for producing solar modules. With an optional tandem junction upgrade, these SunFab lines are expected to annually produce modules with a targeted capacity of up to 210 megawatts (MW), or enough energy to power approximately 70,000 homes. (more…)

Livermore Solar Electricity Group Looks to Jump-Start Its Solar Program
Los Gatos, CA, June 2, 2008
Souce; Akeena Solar Inc, press release/Businesswire
http://www.akeena.net/cm/Investor%20Relations/Home.html

Akeena Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKNS), a leading designer and installer of solar power systems, today announced the company has been named a preferred installer by the Livermore Solar Electricity Group as part of Livermore’s effort to encourage residential solar installations.  “With energy costs increasing rapidly, we expect numerous homeowners to start looking at installing a solar power system. Our group’s goal is to help Livermore homeowners choose reliable and trusted installers,” said Tom Reitter, founder of the Livermore Solar Electricity Group and a retired Livermore City Council member. “The Livermore Solar Electricity Group, after spending two months investigating solar photo-voltaic integrators and financing options chose Akeena Solar as one of two companies to recommend to Livermore residents. Akeena Solar is a large, high-quality company that sells only high-quality products and services.” (more…)

Innovative Model Lights the Way for School Districts and Colleges Nationwide
Lafayette, CA & Irvine, CA, June 2, 2008
Source: Solar Money, press release /BusinessWire
http://www.solarmonkey.net/

By the end of 2008 Lafayette School District will be producing the majority of its own power through rooftop solar energy, and saving money in the process. They have selected Solar Monkey as their partner and entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Solar Monkey who will install, own, and operate solar power systems on 4 of 5 of the district schools: Burton Valley, Springhill, Lafayette Elementary School and Stanley Middle School. (more…)