Solar Cells Info

Costco Goes Green with Mitsubishi Electric Solar Array
San Luis Obispo, CA, Jan 30, 2008lif.
Source; REC Solar /press release /Businesswire
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view
&newsId=20080130005329&newsLang=en

REC Solar, a rapidly growing provider of residential and commercial solar electric systems, and Mitsubishi Electric have announced the completion of Hawaii’s two largest solar installations for the Costco Wholesale locations in Kauai and Kona. The two systems, which are 680 kilowatts (DC) each, hold the distinction of being the biggest solar arrays in the state of Hawaii to date. Collectively, these systems will generate enough electricity to power 250 homes.
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Posted by Keith Johnson
Guy Chazan reports, February 7, 2008
Source: The Wall Streets Journal
http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2008/02/07/
siberia-solar-powers-next-heartland/?mod=googlenews_wsj

Nitol Solar wants to become one of the world’s biggest producers of high-purity silicon, the main ingredient of solar cells. That’s pretty ambitious, considering it only started making tiny amounts of the stuff last month.  But these are strange times. Nitol is selling 25-30% of its equity in an IPO in London next week and its advisers say it’ll have no trouble raising $250-300 million. That would give the company a total market cap of as much as $750 million. Not bad for an outfit whose main asset is a Cold War-era chemical plant in the depths of Siberia.
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Source: ScienceDaily/Jan. 31, 2008
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130194130.htm

Newly designed solar cells can be screen-printed in a wide array of colors and patterns to allow them to be attractively incorporated into building design. The solar cells also can be used on windows, providing shading from glare while generating electricity.

The key component of the new modules is an organic dye which in combination with nanoparticles converts sunlight into electricity. Due to the small size of the nanoparticles, the modules are semi-transparent. This aspect makes them well suited for façade integration. The new solar cells are being developed by members of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, who will be presenting their new technology in Tokyo at Nanotech 2008, the world’s largest trade fair for nanotechnology.
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by Lisa Zyga, February 08, 2008
Source: Inventorspot.com
http://inventorspot.com/articles/10_gigantic_solarpowered_project_10559

Solar cell efficiencies are improving, and a number of solar-powered projects are popping up around the world. Here are a few highlights, including single buildings and large solar plants. Hopefully, their successors will be even bigger and better…
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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…)

San Francisco CA, Jan. 24, 2008
Source: Suntech Power Holdings Co. press release
http://www.suntech-power.com/News/tabid/99/Default.aspx?id=309&Module=597

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.  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…)

St. Helier, Jersey, Jan 17, 2008
Source: Pressportal.ch
http://www.presseportal.ch/de/pm/100013003/100552961/meinl_international_power_ltd

Total investment volume: EUR 87 million, Scheduled commissioning date: September 2008

Meinl International Power Ltd. (MIP) has signed contracts for the development of a solar farm in Andalusia/Spain. The plants will be constructed in one of Europe´s most Southern and therefore sunniest regions by a consortium headed by Alpine Energie Deutschland GmbH. The solar farm is designed for a total capacity of 15.4 MWp. The general contractor has agreed to complete the project by the end of September 2008 in order to be eligible for a favourable feed-in tariff.
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Source: Aleo Solar AG press release/ 21 Jan 2008
http://www.aleo-solar.de/en-presse/aleo-solar-ag-wins-another-large-contract-in-spain-2.html

Aleo Solar  AG today announced that it has won another large contract from SOLARTIA. aleo solar will supply the Spanish project developer with modules for a new solar farm in the Navarre province.  This order is expected to generate sales worth nearly EUR 17 million. Together with the orders reported in December, the total agreed volume of the Spanish project now amounts to nearly EUR 62 million. SOLARTIA also has the option of ordering another shipment of modules in 2008 worth nearly EUR 5 million. (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.
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by AER Staff, 16 January 2008
Source: Alternative Energy Resources Online.com
http://www.aer-online.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.1194

Clean Solar Inc., a solar photovoltaic installer for residential and commercial projects, has announced it will offer a $500 charitable donation on behalf of its customers.  Clean Solar will allow customers to choose the charity of their choice. For those who do not have a favorite charity, Clean Solar will offer four nonprofits to choose from: Sierra Club, Audobon Society, National Wildlife Federation, and The Grameen Foundation.
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