Solar Cells Info

by Mike Sunnucks, Phoenix Business Journal / May 6, 1008
Source: Phoenix Business Journal
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/05/05/daily23.html

Arizona could be in line for as many as three dozen solar energy projects and facilities from Germany. But California, New Mexico, Oregon and other states also are in the fray as competition heats up for solar and other alternative energy projects.  At an international trade event in Scottsdale on Tuesday, Greater Phoenix Economic Council CEO Barry Broome said 34 German solar companies are looking at potential U.S. sites for energy facilities, and Arizona is in the running for those projects. (more…)

Another Sunny Year for Solar Power

by Janet L. Sawin /May 9, 2008

Source: WolrdWatchInstitute / http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5449

Global production of photovoltaic (PV) or solar cells-which convert the sun’s light directly to electricity-increased 51 percent in 2007, to 3,733 megawatts.[1 According to early estimates, more than 2,935 megawatts of solar modules were installed that year, bringing cumulative global installations of PVs since 1996 to more than 9,740 megawatts-enough to meet the annual electricity demand of more than 3 million homes in Europe.[2]   Over the past five years, annual global production of PV cells has increased nearly sevenfold, and cumulative installations have grown more than fivefold.[3] (more…)

EJIOFOR ALIKE, 28 April, 2008
Source: BusinesDayOnline.com
http://www.businessdayonline.com/energy/8809.html

RAOUF SAIDI, technical director of Ecoru Group, a Netherlands-based solar energy solution provider, committed to being part of the solution to Nigeria’s energy problems, in this interview with EJIOFOR ALIKE, speaks on how his company plan to make solar energy systems affordable to the average Nigerian though the support of some Nigerian banks. (more…)

Daniel J. Stouffer, April 30, 2008
Source: American Chronicle
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/60188

The American homeowner has the option to produce their own renewable energy from the sun and keep the energy savings every month. Homeowners who follow the steps and complete the requirements have a good chance of getting a residential solar energy system installed on their home on a rental basis.  To be Considered for a Solar Energy System: * Be the mortgage holder of a residential home, * Collect two years of energy bills from your utility, * Have a south facing roof line or good exposure to the sun, * Complete a site inspection to determine location feasibility, * Have ability to wait 1 to 2 years for solar installation.
(more…)

By Andres Cala / Apr. 16, 2008
Source: The Energy Tribune
http://www.energytribune.com/articles.cfm?aid=859

The recent growth of photovoltaic energy in countries like Spain and Germany is triggering a reassessment of incentives in Europe to foster a cost-effective, consumer-friendly approach to solar power.  Europe already has about 3,000 megawatts of P.V. capacity in place. And according to the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (E.P.I.A.), that number is expected to triple to 11,000 MW by 2012. Photovoltaic power accounts for less than 1 percent of Europe’s electricity needs, and even under best-case scenarios, that share will change little in the future. (more…)

Source: Milpitas Post Staff, April 30, 2008
http://www.themilpitaspost.com/ci_9109442

IN the first issue of the year, the Milpitas Post editorial opinion column was headlined “How about a really imaginative idea for 2008?” It is now coming to pass right here in a unique partnership between Chevron Energy Solutions, Bal Solar II (subsidiary of Bank of America) and the Milpitas Unified School District. It’s all under the blessings of the California Energy Commission. (more…)

Lawrence, Mass., May 5, 2008
Source: Solectria Renewables, press release
http://www.solren.com/news/index.htm

Solectria Renewables introduces a line of residential grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) inverters that have the highest California Energy Commission efficiencies in the industry (96%) for transformer-isolated inverters. Power levels for the new inverters, PVI 3000, PVI 4000, PVI 5000, and PVI 5300, range from 3000 to 5300 watts.  ,To improve ease of installation, these inverters were designed based on the recommendations and requirements of top industry professionals. New features include a quick-mount wall bracket, built-in direct current (DC) disconnect, and fused PV combiner. In addition, they are lightweight and have a flat profile.
(more…)

New Canaan Country School, Planet Self Storage, and James T. Carlton Marine Science Center All Benefiting from Solar Energy
Rocky Hill, Conn., April 22, 2008
Source: ReneweableEnergyworld.com
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?id=52256

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) today announced that three of the solar photovoltaic (PV) projects that it funded through its On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation Program are now completed and successfully operating.  These installations include:
*  A 30.6-kilowatt solar PV system on the rooftop of the Stevens Upper School Building at New Canaan Country School in New Canaan, Conn.;
*  A 28.6-kilowatt solar PV system at Planet Self Storage in Newington, Conn., the state’s first ground-mounted solar PV system in a commercial application; and
*  A 17.2-kilowatt solar PV system located on the roof of the James T. Carlton Marine Science Center at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Conn.
All three installations were supported with grants from CCEF’s On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation Program.  CCEF grants for these projects totaled $324,530 and covered approximately half of the total project costs. (more…)

San Francisco, CA and Münich, Germany, May 7, 2008
Source: Sun-Tech Power Holdings, press release
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=192654&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1141221

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.  one of the world’s leading manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, today announced it has signed an agreement with Hanau Energies SAS to supply a 4.5MW building integrated PV system (BIPV) to a farm located in Alsace, France. The project will be one of the largest BIPV installations ever built and will employ Suntech’s ‘Just Roof’ modules to form complete weatherproof roofs on five agricultural warehouses on a farm in the Alsace region of France. The 4.5MW installation is anticipated to be completed by January 2009 with an additional 1MW already being planned. (more…)

Indium Nitride-Based Quantum-Dot Solar Cells Potentially Provide High Efficiency and Resistance to Extreme Conditions
Taunton, Mass., May 1, 2008
Source; Kopin Corp. press release/BusinessWire
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=93548&
p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1138255

Kopin(R) Corp. (NASDAQ: KOPN), the world’s leading provider of heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) wafers for cellular phones and wireless local area networks, today announced that it has been selected for the award of a $600,000 solar cell development contract from NASA. The contract is the second phase of a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program to develop indium nitride (InN)-based quantum dot solar cell technology. Kopin’s partners on this NASA STTR project include groups at Virginia Tech and Magnolia Optical Technologies. (more…)