Solar Cells Info

by Ashley Seager, The Guardian, February 15 2008
Source: The Guardian UK
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/feb/15/renewableenergy.solarpower

The scale of the renewable energy challenge facing Britain was revealed yesterday by figures showing Britain installed about 270 solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on houses in 2007, compared with 130,000 in Germany. Britain is the worst performer behind Malta and Luxembourg in the EU in its use of renewables and produces only 2% of its energy from them. Last month the EU said Britain must raise that share to 15% by 2020. Malcolm Wicks, the energy minister, acknowledged last week that Britain needs a “revolution” in green technologies and insisted the country was showing “leadership” in the area.

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Chennai, Tamilnadu, India, Jan. 30, 2008
Source: The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200801301653.htm

Officials from the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) and Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) would visit countries like Japan and Germany to study the low-cost solar energy generation model and replicate the same in the state.  Electricity Minister Arcot N Veeraswamy informed the State Assembly on wednesday that Japan and Germany were successful in generating low-cost solar power, which is at present, a ‘costly affair’ in Tamil Nadu. (more…)

Source: Power Engineering, 19 February 2008
http://pepei.pennnet.com/display_article/320414/6/ARTCL/Display/none/
1/Algiers-aims-to-export-solar-power-by-2013/

Algeria could start exporting solar power to Germany by 2013 according to Tewfik Hasni, president and general manager of the country’s renewable energy agency, New Energy Algeria, MEED reports.  The agency is lobbying the state for approval for the project, so it can build a 3000 km interconnection with Germany. It is also in talks with German and Italian utilities to secure customers for the power.  The interconnection will initially be able to transport 800-1000 MW of electricity produced in solar hybrid power plants in Algeria. However, this could be scaled up to 6000 MW by 2018.
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By Gerry Shih, February 19, 2008
Source: The Statesman.com
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/washington/washington/
entries/2008/02/19/officials_highl.html

By all accounts, the 2007 Solar Decathlon resembled a modern auto show – the hype around energy efficiency, the glimpses of future technology, the deja vu as German engineering upstages the American effort.   But while their automobile counterparts fret, American green tech engineers believe there are fortunes to be made in everything ranging from low-energy heating and cooling appliances to heat-efficient materials to whole modular homes that are starting to hit the market. On Tuesday, the director of the decathlon recapped some highlights of the competition, where twenty universities one-upped each other with fascinating feats of innovation.
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San Francisco, CA, Jan. 24, 2008
Source: Suntech Power Holdings press release
http://www.suntech-power.com/News/tabid/99/Default.aspx?id=309&Module=597

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) one of the world’s leading manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, today announced Suntech’s participation in a solar-energy system constructed for the roof of the town hall in Genk, Belgium.  The project was engineered by Netherlands-based Oskomera Solar Power Solutions (OSPS) in collaboration with Belgium-based ENECO Energie.  The system consists of approximately 1,260 Suntech solar modules with a capacity of 239kW. Project engineering, delivery and installation was executed within a short, three-month time frame. (more…)

Statesman News Service /New Delhi, Feb. 3, 2008
Source: The Statesman
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=2&id=215587

In a special initiative, India will undertake solar electrification of selected villages in other Saarc countries as part of its developmental programmes.  The programme, to be launched soon, will involve providing electrification to homes and streets in villages to be specifically identified for the purpose. The work will entail supply of power and maintenance by companies under the supervision of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), sources said. The MEA has invited tenders from companies for undertaking the task. (more…)

Statesman News Service, Kolkata, Feb. 10, 2008
Source: The Statesman
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=12&id=216956

West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency will set up a solar energy park in Purulia district which will generate about 30 mw to 40 mw of solar power in the next two years. The said park is expected to attract investments in between Rs 600 and Rs 800 crore over the next two years, Dr SP Gon Chowdhury, managing director of WBREDA said.
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Kolkata, Feb 14, 2008 / Statesman News Service
Source: The Statesman
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=12&id=217864

The Centre has finally agreed to give incentive to the state government for setting up the first grid-connected two mega watt solar power station at Dishergarh Power Station complex “This is the first plant of this kind to be set up in the country and 8.5 acre land has been earmarked for the project by DPSC at Asansol,” Mr Mrinal Banerjee, state power minister said  Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC) and West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation Ltd (WBGEDCL) signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) today for the purpose.
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Posted by Harry Fuller /Courtesy EER / Feb 16, 2008
Source: ZDNet.com blog
http://blogs.zdnet.com/green/?p=808

A new study of the Concentrated Solar Power industry shows Europe to be far ahead, with major growth in the U.S. a couple years away. Emerging Energy Research found several reasons for the growth on Concenrtated Solar Power…but first a brief explanation. CSP uses reflectors to focus the sun’s energy, like using a hand magnifier to set paper on fire like you did when you were ten years old. Except this concentrated solar heat is focused on enclosed pipes containing oil or water that becomes steam. These superhot fluids are used to then drive turbines that generate electricity. In the CSP system the oil or water is reused. There are no by-products, no CO2. This goes a long way toward meeting Kyoto Protocol targets for co-operating nations in Europe and elsewhere. (more…)

by John G. Edwards, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Feb 17, 2008 /This story first appeared in the Business Press.
Source:  http://www.lvrj.com/business/15713407.html

Gene Cattaneo, a Las Vegas renewable-energy entrepreneur, believed solar power’s day was coming as surely as the sun would rise the next day.  Cattaneo called himself Mr. Solar, but he didn’t see his dream come true. A neighbor shot and killed Cattaneo in 2001 during an argument over the neighbor’s yard sales.  Had Mr. Solar only lived a few more years, he would have seen renewable energy grow from a niche business into an industry of significant economic size, advocates say. The dream of cheap, reliable solar power has yet to become a reality, but some say solar and other renewable energy sources are rapidly emerging as the fuel of the 21st century. (more…)