Solar Cells Info

At 1 gigawatt, the solar power plant in northwest China would be the world’s biggest, but the timeline is a bit iffy at the moment. Construction starts next year.
by: Jeff St. John. December 31, 2008
Source: GreenTechMedia.com
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/
china-plans-worlds-largest-solar-power-plant-5437.html

Two Chinese companies have proposed a massive, 1-gigawatt solar photovoltaic power plant in China’s northwest, one that would be the worlds biggest if it’s completed.  The China Technology Development Group Corp. (NSDQ: CTDC) and Qinghai New Energy Co. announced this week that they had formed an agreement with local Chinese officials to start the project, according to a report from research firm JL McGregor & Company.  The project in Qinghai’s Qaidam Basin will start out in 2009 with a more modest initial goal of 30 megawatts at a cost of 1 billion Yuan ($146 million), and will combine crystalline silicon and thin-film solar panels, the firm reported. The timeline and projected cost of the entire 1-gigawatt project were not disclosed. (more…)

By Susan Wilson, December 23, 2008 |
Source: http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2008/12/23/
congress-increases-the-rebate-for-solar-electric-energy/

While the Stock Market continues its impression of a yo-yo, one investment is continuing its uphill climb.  Solar installations are continuing to be an excellent investment especially with the increase in tax credits.  Congress finally passed an energy bill in October of this year that extended or increased tax credits for renewable energy.  At least one solar company was threatening to pull out of the U. S. market if the credits were not renewed.
(more…)

by Tyler Hamilton, Dec 22, 2008
Source: TheStar.com (Toronto)
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/557162

Most homeowners, it’s safe to assume, would seriously consider putting solar panels on their rooftops if it was economical and didn’t involve a massive upfront payment.  As the kids might say on the drive to the cottage, are we there yet?  Not quite – but we’re heading in the right direction.  Ontario refunds the provincial sales tax on solar photovoltaic, or PV, equipment and under its standard offer program will pay 42 cents per kilowatt-hour if you want to feed your home-generated solar power into the grid. (more…)

By Matt Nauman, Silicon Valley Mercury News / 2 Jan 2009
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11358068?nclick_check=1

Despite the turbulent economy, or perhaps because of it, solar energy remains a growth industry in California.  The amount of electricity generated in the state by solar energy soared in 2008, and applications for rebates under the state’s Million Solar Roofs program reached record levels in the last five months of the year.  “While we don’t have the final numbers yet, it appears we nearly doubled the amount of solar installed in 2008 versus 2007,” said Molly Tirpak Sterkel, director of the California Solar Initiative. “That’s a magnificent story.” (more…)

Staff Reporter, Rosemead, CA, Dec 19, 2008
Source: Indiajournal.com
http://www.indiajournal.com/pages/event.php?id=5421

Southern California Edison (SCE) has completed the first of its proposed 150 solar photovoltaic installations on Southern California commercial rooftops. The project could eventually cover two square miles of existing commercial roofs with 250 million watts of peak generating capacity – equivalent to building several utility-scale solar power plants. (more…)

by Karin Kloosterman, Jan 8th, 2009
Source: GreenProphet.com
http://greenprophet.com/2009/01/08/5807/solar-csp-iran/

Does a country that “promises” to wipe Israel off the map have a right to create nuclear energy for “power?” I must admit, news that Iran is looking to create power from solar energy puts some of my (irrational?) fears of living in Israel aside. According to the Iran Daily, Iran’s first solar powered station has been inaugurated.  The new plant is a concentrating solar power (CSP) plant, similar to one in Spain which reflects light to a central tower.   The plant was inaugurated at the beginning of 2009, in Shiraz, the Fars province. The CSP system uses parabolic mirrors which focuses sun onto a tube of water. Eventually becoming super-heated, steam in the tube is used to turn electricity-generating turbines. (more…)

By Michael King • Post-Crescent staff writer • December 21, 2008
Source. PostCrescent.com
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081221/APC0101/812210506/1979/APC04

George Dearborn believes the town of Menasha will become a renewable energy leader by example with the installation of a large solar system next spring.  Dearborn, the town’s community development director, said last week’s action by the Town Board to award a $240,453 contract to Energize LLC, Winneconne, will give the town three large solar installations on the west side.  “We’re anxious to make this happen,” Dearborn said.  Energize owner Jim Funk said the 25.2-kilowatt system would be the largest in the Fox Cities and one of the largest solar installations north of Milwaukee. (more…)

By Andy Vuong. The Denver Post / 31 Dec 2008
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_11339744

Ilan Caplan and his wife, Amy Berkowitz Caplan, had solar panels installed on their home in Lowry a year ago. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post ). Ilan Caplan took the plunge last December and had 14 solar panels installed on the roof of his 2,900-square- foot home in Lowry.  The 2.87-kilowatt photovoltaic system — enough to generate about 75 percent of his family’s power needs — cost about $9,000 after rebates from Xcel Energy. He also received a $2,000 tax credit from the federal government.  Caplan has saved nearly $1,000 on utility bills and estimates that the cost of the system will be recovered in just more than seven years.  “I wished we would’ve done it earlier,” said Caplan, a finance director for a wind-power company based in California. (more…)

WorldWater & Solar Technologies Completes Solar Installation at Valley Center Municipal Water District
Ewing, N.J. – January 5, 2009
http://www.worldwater.com/PDFdocuments/Valley-Center-Complete.pdf

WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp. (OTC BB: WWAT.OB), developer and marketer of proprietary high-horsepower solar systems, today announced that it has completed installation of a 1.1 MW solar power system for the Valley Center Municipal Water District (VCMWD) of Valley Center, California. (more…)

Source: Ohio.com / Jan 07, 2009
http://www.ohio.com/news/ap?articleID=1403197&c=y

Ohio is taking another step in its attempt to turn the state into a hub for the renewable energy industry by offering grants to increase the use of solar and wind power.  The new program isn’t big, but development officials say it will help an industry that could create thousands of jobs in Ohio.  The state says the $3.5 million program for residential projects will lead to 260 wind turbines and 200 solar hot water systems. (more…)