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SolarNow Consulting
September 04, 2010
WOODBRIDGE — While Ed Potosnak sat in his Main Street campaign headquarters making personal phone calls to voters, his opponent, Leonard Lance, was sitting in Virginia vacationing before Congress reconvenes next week.
September 04, 2010 01:45 PM
The race to grid parity, one week at a time.
September 04, 2010 01:25 PM
Englewood City Council approved an agreement with Arapahoe County Aug. 16 that will provide about $127,000 the city will distribute to residents to help them make improvements to their homes.
September 04, 2010 01:07 PM
Government policies to enhance Malay Bumiputera and other ethnic minority participation in commerce and industry are better achieved through capacity building efforts such as investment in human resource development and skills training rather than through forced equity restructuring. Written by Dr. Lim Teck Ghee, CPI
September 04, 2010 07:46 AM
Remember spin art, that standard attraction at school fairs and carnivals? You dropped paint onto spinning cardboard and the result was always a surprise.
September 04, 2010 06:47 AM
BOULDER — Boulder County commissioners declined Tuesday to second-guess their Land Use Department’s Aug. 5 approval of a potential medical-marijuana growing operation north of Longmont.
September 04, 2010 05:50 AM
WASHINGTON — Joseph Wilkes, a Washington, D.C., architect who had a taste for modern buildings and displayed a bent toward environmental awareness long before it became fashionable in architecture circles, died Aug. 18. He was 91.
September 04, 2010 05:14 AM
The Green Access Home at Suncadia, near Cle Elum, is nearly ready for public tours.
September 04, 2010 05:13 AM
When Longhorn football kicks off at home a week from today, so will a brand-new marketing effort aimed at peddling, of all things, green electricity.Texas Longhorns Energy promises customers 100 percent power from Texas wind. “Let your power power the Texas Longhorns,” says former star quarterback Colt McCoy, whose family has signed up, in a promotional video. Coach Mack Brown offers potential ...
September 04, 2010 04:11 AM
September 03, 2010
Planners for the proposed outdoor learning center at Hillview Recreation Park have cut costs enough to put the project back on the table.
September 03, 2010 06:59 PM
Schneider Electric announced today its participation at the 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC), the world's largest international conference for solar technology, in Valencia, Spain, from September 6-9, 2010. Schneider Electric will display its global solutions for a wide array of photovoltaic (PV) markets including solar farms, large commercial ...
September 03, 2010 06:02 PM
Under a recently signed agreement, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) and the Ukraine's International Radioecology Laboratory (IRL) will collaborate on radiation ecology research, including projects in the region impacted by the catastrophic accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant 24 years ago. Researchers at IRL use the area around Chernobyl as ...
September 03, 2010 04:12 PM
| September 11, 2010 | | 11:00 am | to | 3:00 pm |
Join us for the last Family Day of 2010! Come fishing at Solar One!
September 03, 2010 03:48 PM
These China solar stocks that have outperformed their U.S peers in the past week will likely generate further returns to investors.
September 03, 2010 03:28 PM
As we have covered in this space before, the Desertec Foundation wants to build massive solar thermal installations in the Sahara Desert and elsewhere, pointing out that if only a tiny fraction of the world's deserts were used we could have all the power we would ever need.
September 03, 2010 03:06 PM
Patrons of a new San Diego California gym called Greenasium have the chance to drop calories while producing energy to run the gym. The new gym opened this week and sports 3 specialized spinning bikes that are equipped to produce energy that is plugged into the nearest outlet.
"The bike's are retrofitted by a company up in Seattle that we work with called Resource Fitness," said Greenasium's co-owner Byron Spratt. "As the bike (spins), the wheel creates DC power, converts it to AC power, which is plugged back into the wall, which puts energy back into the grid."
Their floor is made of recycled tires-love it!
September 03, 2010 02:17 PM
BERLIN and VALENCIA, Spain, September 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Photovoltaic system installations in the first half of 2010, estimated at 3 GWp, continue to consolidate Germany's position as the world's largest photovoltaic (PV) market and an attractive investment location for PV companies. In 2009, Germany accounted for approximately one of every two newly installed modules worldwide, with total installations at 3.8 GWp for the year. Germany Trade & Invest will have representatives at this year's European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference & Exhibition in Valencia, Spain, from September 6-9 to introduce opportunities for PV companies in Germany.
Amendments to the photovoltaic feed-in tariffs of Germany's Renewable Energies Act (EEG) were passed in early July, with a further adjustment to take effect October 1. The changes mark a further shift towards the rooftop segment by abandoning field installations on cropland and increasing the attractiveness of the own consumption bonus for small and medium-scale rooftop installations. This bonus is paid to rooftop installation owners of systems smaller than 500 kWp who intend to use the energy they generate.
Feed-in tariff rates were reduced by 13 percent for rooftop installations and eliminated for cropland field installations from July 1. At the same time, conversion areas saw a reduction of 8 percent and all other areas were decreased by 12 percent. Beginning October 1, these rates will be reduced by a further 3 percent. Still, the new tariffs remain highly attractive, with rates ranging from 25.02 - 34.05 EURc/kWh for installations connected before October 1 and 24.26 - 33.03 EURc/kWh for those connected during the remainder of the year.
The law, established ten years ago, requires power companies to buy renewable energy from system owners at the corresponding feed-in tariff rate for 20 years, guaranteeing an attractive payback time and high returns.
Increased Demand by Private Users
The two-tiered changes to the EEG are a reaction to the increased price competitiveness of photovoltaic systems, including the recent price drop for solar panels and components. These developments have created a number of new market opportunities for PV companies. Increased demand in the rooftop segment corresponds with installations by private users who overwhelmingly prefer high-quality systems. Changes are also leading to growing demand for energy storage systems and smart grid applications to fully profit from the own consumption bonus. By 2013 energy from PV sources is expected to be competitive with conventional energy sources in the electricity market for private consumers.
Manufacturers in Germany not only have easy access to a large and growing market, they also benefit from a competitive advantage through a local brand presence and reputation for high quality products. Germany boasts a well established industrial infrastructure, large equipment supplier base, and qualified and experienced workforce. The country's PV industry also features the highest density of R&D institutes in the industry.
Germany Trade & Invest will have representatives at this year's 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference & Exhibition in Feria Valencia - Level 2 - Hall 2 - Booth A17 to meet with companies interested in the world's photovoltaic leader.
Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.
September 03, 2010 01:07 PM
September 3, 2010 - www.InvestorIdeas.com, a leader in sector research tools for investor's reports on agriculture stocks news and trading as the global food crisis grows.
September 03, 2010 01:00 PM
DUBLIN - September 3, 2010 (Investorideas.com renewable energy/green newswire) - Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Renewable Energy - North America (NAFTA) Industry Guide" report to their offering.
September 03, 2010 01:00 PM
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With a goal of helping Arizona move toward a cleaner energy future, Arizona Public Service Co. has issued a request for proposal that seeks solar electric systems for five high-profile government and non-profit organizations. Each location, which requires its own individual proposal, will be fitted with a 10- to 30-kilowatt photovoltaic system.
While five locations have been identified, details of the submitted proposals will ultimately determine how many of the sites are selected to receive solar panels. If chosen, the non-profit entities and government-owned facilities will receive all the energy produced by their site’s solar system. APS will receive the renewable energy credits, which will go toward helping the company meet the requirements of the Arizona Corporation Commission’s Renewable Energy Standard.
Funding for the installations is expected from two sources. A majority will come from the Energy Office of the Arizona Department of Commerce’s Distributed Energy Leadership (Utilities) Program, which is funded with federal stimulus dollars (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009). The second funding source, pending ACC approval, is the APS Renewable Energy Incentive Program.
As part of the development process, installers must meet all reporting requirements of the Arizona Department of Commerce and all requirements related to the accounting and disbursement of federal funds pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
RFP submissions are due by noon (AZ time), Monday, September 27, 2010. Additional information, including the locations for the projects, is available online at aps.com/rfp.
APS, Arizona’s largest and longest-serving electricity utility, serves more than 1.1 million customers in 11 of the state’s 15 counties. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the largest principal of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW).
September 03, 2010 12:53 PM
CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ferro Electronic Materials, a leading supplier of materials for fabricating photovoltaic silicon solar cells for more than 25 years, will introduce two new print-on-print metallization pastes at the 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition to be held in Valencia, Spain, September 6–9. NS 33-514 and NS 33-515 pastes have optimized inorganic and organic properties that make them compatible with the double-printing (also known as print-on-print) process.
Double-printing of metal grid lines permits solar cell manufacturers to print taller, narrower lines, reducing the shadowing effect caused by wide grid lines, while enhancing electrical conductivity.
Double-printing is experiencing strong growth due to the potential for better print resolution and subsequent increases in efficiency. Ferro's NS 33-514 and NS 33-515 are capable of printing grid lines that are 70-microns wide with a greater than 0.3 aspect ratio.
In double printing, the bottom layer silver can be tailored to have lower contact resistance and the top layer can be designed to have low bulk resistivity. The net effect is to improve electrical output, efficiency, and production, enabling solar energy to become a more cost-competitive energy generation alternative.
"Ferro has been engaged with double printing applications for more than five years," said Todd Williams, business manager for Ferro Electronic Materials. "This technology is experiencing strong pull due to the improvements in electrical efficiency possible from the higher aspect ratios that can be produced."
September 03, 2010 12:17 PM
Fighting a war on the ground in Afghanistan has to be one of the hardest things a young person can do.
Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Defense, or DOD, is on the ground with our troops offering help and support – albeit in some very unexpected ways.
According to Tony Bui, an engineer with the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, or CERDEC (located at Fort Monmouth, NJ), newly developed renewable energy devices will give U.S. troops more mobility, allow them to stay in the field longer, and protect the average soldier from exposure by ensuring that battery changes happen once in a blue moon. Literally.
The first is called REPPS (the Rucksack Enhanced Portable Power System). Made up of flexible solar photovoltaic (PV) panels rated at 62 watts, it represents a continuous, portable power generation system that can be used to keep laptops and similarly sized electronics running in the field.
Charging can be done in five or six hours. For larger items – that is, larger than a laptop and smaller than a Jeep – REPPS units can be chain-ganged to deliver even more electricity, thanks to integrated power conversion technologies.
Another system, called RENEWS (Reusing Existing Natural Wind and Solar system), marries solar and wind energy and integrates inverter technology to allow soldiers to connect to the device through AC/DC (alternating or direct current) outlets.
Because the device also incorporates battery storage of electricity, RENEWS needs the combined muscle of two soldiers to transport. Even so, it provides all the electricity needed to power communications and surveillance equipment, even in the boonies, where vehicle- and grid power often aren’t available.
Both are still in development, but thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA; 2009), 700 REPPS and 125 RENEWS will soon be headed to the troops in Afghanistan.
As Fort Bliss Commanding General Howard B. Bromberg noted, “We are looking for game-changing technologies…”
September 03, 2010 10:40 AM
MONTROSE — Not every person can afford a solar electric system for their home or business. But if Delta-Montrose Electric Association has anything to do with it, they will be able to purchase of piece of a photovoltaic (PV) system.
September 03, 2010 10:28 AM
Tokyo, Sept 3, 2010 - (JCN Newswire) - Sony Chemical & Information Device Corporation commercialized and commenced full-scale mass production of the SP100 Series, Solar Cell Conductive Film for photovoltaic modules in April 2010. The SP100 Series is a film-type conductive bonding material that bonds the solar cell with the metal ribbon that acts as a transmission line for electricity generated ...
September 03, 2010 10:18 AM
The Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE) suspended trade on Hungarian energy-efficiency company RFV at 9:20 a.m. on Friday for the rest of the Friday trade session at the request of the company pending the announcement of information that could exercise a significant impact on RFV's share value. RFV shares were trading down 0.28% at HUF 7,180 on a turnover of HUF 7.3 million at the time of the ...
September 03, 2010 09:33 AM
Wind and solar developers, manufacturers, suppliers and Ontario Feed-in Tariff administrators are looking forward to discussing the challenges and opportunities of building the province's wind and solar supply chains next month.
September 03, 2010 08:46 AM
Texas Tech University engineers are working on a project to determine the type, location and number of sensors needed for condition monitoring and fault diagnosis in fossil energy systems.
September 03, 2010 07:33 AM
More Taiwan-based equipment suppliers, which used to see sales contributed by their panel customers account for 70-80% of their total revenues, are venturing into the production of equipment for the green energy industry as a number of industry giants such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) and AU Optronics (AUO) have moved into the ...
September 03, 2010 04:41 AM
BRANCHBURG — Noveda Technologies Inc., a Branchburg firm specializing in energy-monitoring technology, has won a contract with Public Service Electric & Gas to help the utility track the performance of its solar energy systems.
September 03, 2010 04:03 AM
September 03, 2010 04:00 AM
 Photon International is reporting that similar to German module manufactures, German inverter manufacturers are feeling the heat from China as well. Even though 6 of the top 10 inverters solar worldwide are manufactured in Germany, the organization says component costs in Germany are much higher than those in China.
September 03, 2010 04:00 AM
Reports indicate France is mulling a 12% reduction in its feed-in tariffs. Analysts break down the reasons (not unexpected) and possible impact to regional solar efforts and individual vendors.
September 03, 2010 04:00 AM
 Many investors find the prospect of selecting individual stocks simply too daunting. For those investors interested in investing in peak oil, but uncomfortable with the risks and moral dilemmas inherent in oil company stocks, there is another option: Powershares Global Progressive Transportation Portfolio (PTRP).
September 03, 2010 04:00 AM
 The huge turbines at the Guanting Wind Farm are popular backdrops for photos of newly married couples who find the 60-meter-tall structures a symbol of modernity; an endearing addition to the distant mountains, corn fields and lake a few dozen kilometers outside bustling Beijing.
September 03, 2010 04:00 AM
The California Public Utilities Commission Thursday approved a San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) solar power initiative that provides for 100 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy.
September 03, 2010 01:19 AM
September 02, 2010
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below.
September 02, 2010 11:26 PM
When Longhorn football kicks off at home a week from Saturday, so will a brand-new marketing effort aimed at peddling, of all things, green electricity. Texas Longhorns Energy promises customers 100 percent power from Texas wind. "Let your power power the Texas Longhorns," says former star quarterback Colt McCoy, whose family has signed up, in a promotional video. Coach Mack Brown offers ...
September 02, 2010 08:55 PM
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO — His initial experience with the Solar FlexRack has convinced another project manager that the innovative rack mounting system for solar panels holds tremendous potential for the future.
September 02, 2010 08:34 PM
Solar power continues to expand its presence as the California Commission gave the go-ahead for a 250-megawatt solar-thermal project.
September 02, 2010 08:34 PM
September 2, 2010
This is the first guest blog post from Wako Takayama, sustainability consultant and author of Everyday Sustainable. Wako is committed to living and working sustainably and helps companies develop sustainable products and services.
When people find out that I have a passion for energy efficiency and have been conducting basic residential energy efficiency audits (as a volunteer with Acterra Green@Home HouseCall,) they often ask what they can do to be more efficient at home.
 Talking about CFLs is easy because you can see them and you can tell when they are on and using electricity. Not so with so many of the other electronics products plugged into our homes.
A recent study of energy usage in Minnesota shows that “Home electronics is a growing portion of each household's electricity usage, close to 20 percent.” In 1980, the average home had three electronic devices. We might guess a TV, stereo/radio and how about a blender?
These days, think about all the gadgets plugged in around a typical house. And we keep bringing new ones home, eager to try out the new computer, brew a cup of coffee or play the latest video game. The last thing on our minds is wasted electricity and how to manage it.
But it turns out that a lot of these things are drawing power even though we don't see it–for example when electronics are is “standby mode.” And then there are the things that we forget are even plugged in because we don't use them, like that extra fridge out in the garage that is empty except for a couple liters of soda left over from last Thanksgiving.
The Minnesota study names 5 low-cost and no-cost energy reducing opportunities:
- Enable computer power management [in other words, make sure your computer goes to sleep or hibernates automatically after it hasn't been used for a while ]
- Manually unplug devices that draw standby power when not in use
- Manually turn off devices that are left on but not used
- Use “smart” power strips to eliminate standby power consumption of peripherals (e.g., a DVD player) when the main device (e.g. television) is turned off
- Use timers to eliminate electricity use by devices that are only used at certain times of day
So here is what I suggest for cutting down wasted electricity at home. Walk around your house and give it a one-time plug load audit. A device like a Kill-a-Watt can help you “see” the watts used by a device when it's on and off and on standby. You can also feel the heat on devices that are drawing power when they are “off.” As you review the devices in your house, consider which of the opportunities above might work for it. And don't forget to do this every time you bring home your next latest-and-greatest-gadget.
The study was conducted by the Energy Center of Wisconsin. To read the full report of the study and video presentations, go to http://www.ecw.org/plugload.
September 02, 2010 06:04 PM
For the first time in 20 years, state energy regulators have approved construction on a solar thermal farm. The California Energy Commission gave the Beacon Solar Energy project a unanimous go-ahead Wednesday. The installation, set to unfurl across 2,012 private acres in Kern County, is one of a group of solar proposals hustling to break ground before a federal grant expires at the end of the ...
September 02, 2010 03:48 PM
SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - September 2, 2010) - Pacific Ridge , a private college-preparatory school located in Carlsbad, is aiming to be one of the most energy-efficient and sustainable campuses in the country and recently got one step closer on their path towards LEED for Schools Gold Certification.
September 02, 2010 03:46 PM
The California Energy Commission approved construction Wednesday on the first solar thermal farm regulators have permitted in two decades. The Beacon Solar Energy project on the western edge of the Mojave Desert is one of a group of solar roposals...
September 02, 2010 03:34 PM
As nations gear up toward Peak Oil, conserving energy becomes increasingly important. This includes the office, where the business of business takes place at the highest levels, with executives establishing production quotas even as they develop downsizing plans to boost the bottom line.
You, as an office worker or manager, can help in that effort, and also help yourself, since the better your company does, the more likely you are to keep your job and even (someday, sigh) get a raise.
Take baby steps, like:
- Recycling printer cartridges for charity, which saves the earth and helps fund non-profit rescue organizations
- Shutting down your computer, or at least your monitor, when you leave work. A monitor uses about twice as much energy as a CPU.
- Reducing or eliminating unnecessary print jobs by making often-used office documents available (and interactive) online. Most printers use more energy in standby or sleep mode than they do printing.
Make the steps bigger as you and your coworkers become more comfortable with change. For example, urge your company to install overhead fans to eliminate cubicle overheating or chilly spots, which can be symptoms of a potential “sick building” problem.
When everyone has gotten behind your “green office” campaign, go big-time. Ask the office manager to buy occupancy sensors for the offices, so that lights automatically turn off when occupants leave. This alone can save up to 40 percent of lighting costs.
Then ask your IT guru to do the same for the computers, using software that automatically logs them off after they stand idle for more than 15 minutes.
 Tackle the lunch/break room, where always-on vending machines can be put on a diet with Vending Mi$er, or similar automated control systems.
Another big but important step is switching out incandescent-lit areas and signs with newer, true-white LEDs, which are even more energy efficient than compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and don’t contain dangerous mercury.
Advance to the lavatories and install low-flow faucets and water-miser toilets. If you can’t afford to go whole-hog, given the lingering recession, adapt toilets by filling an empty gallon milk jug with water and dropping it into the right side of the tank, clear of the valve and stopper assembly.
And a final, though very expensive step: switch ink-jet and laser printers for a PrePeat printer, which works without ink or plain paper, and reuses special plastic sheets hundreds of times by essentially “erasing” them with heat.
Photo Credit: ecotopia
September 02, 2010 03:21 PM
Duke Energy has selected California-based Echelon Corporation and Massachusetts-based Ambient Corporation to further develop its grid-based communications architecture that connects various digital devices such as smart meters, power line sensors and automated power switching equipment. Â
September 02, 2010 02:00 PM
Over the past few weeks the market has been one of those short term "trendless" markets that can drive investors crazy and make it very difficult to make money.
September 02, 2010 01:00 PM
September 2, 2010 - (Investorideas.com Newswire) www.InvestorIdeas.com, a global investor research portal announces this week's top ten search phrases from investors.
September 02, 2010 01:00 PM
September 2, 2010 - www.InvestorIdeas.com, a leader in sector research for independent investors reports on Agriculture stocks trading for Sept 2, 2010.
September 02, 2010 01:00 PM
September 2, 2010 - (Investorideas.com renewable energy/green newswire) - Investorideas.com a leading global investor and industry portal covering the green and renewable energy sector release a sector close-up on solar stocks following yesterdays market surge.
September 02, 2010 01:00 PM
TEMPE, Ariz. - September 2, 2010 (Investorideas.com renewable energy/green newswire) - Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASYS), a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of solar cells
September 02, 2010 01:00 PM
September 2, 2010
Last weekend, I was in Minnesota, where I had the chance to visit the “Great Minnesota Get Together”, also known as the Minnesota State Fair. There was a lot of buzz around solar power and the excitement was absolutely infectious! If one thing was clear, it's that people are extremely curious about new ways to get energy. Luckily, the number of available resources is quickly growing!
One of the main attractions at the Minnesota State Fair was an expo hall dedicated to smart homes, including homes powered by solar, called the Eco Experience Building. Inside the Eco Experience Building, there were several demo homes outfitted with smart solutions like cork flooring and no-VOC wallpaper. One of the demo homes also had an entire room dedicated to home solar, with presentations, displaying information about everything from solar monitoring to solar panel equipment to solar power inverters.
Here are some of the audience's questions from one of the smart home sessions I attended:
Do solar panels work in the harsh winters?
Solar PV Panels depend on sunlight, not heat. Production does decrease in the winter because of the shorter length of the day, but this can be accounted for and planned for when you size your system. If the panels are covered in snow, that can slow or stop can stop production, but snow generally slides off the angled panels or melts when the sun shines. Professionally installed panels from a quality local installer will account for resistance to high winds if that is a threat. In extreme weather situation, if panels are damaged, sometimes that is covered by a warranty or if you purchase insurance.
Can I make money by selling extra power back to the grid?
Yes and no. Local utilities have varying policies on buying back power from residential customers. In Minnesota, utility customers with a grid-tied solar system earn credits from the utility company when they generate more electricity than they use. These credits are based on market value, and they reduce a customer’s electric bill. The concept of making a bunch of cash by putting in a big array and selling power back to the utility is a misconception in most cases.
Solar was featured in other parts of the Eco Experience Building, as well. There were displays from Fifty Lanterns International, a solar charity, an interactive area sponsored by the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society, as well as a solar boat on display! The curiosity and creativity buzzing around solar was thrilling; it was wonderful to see how solar technology is spreading across the country. The Minnesota State Fair ends this Labor day, September 6, so be sure to check it out and visit the Eco Experience Building this weekend!
Curious about going solar in your home? Check out our Solar By Location pages to learn more about solar in your state!
September 02, 2010 12:53 PM
BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR), a global solar company providing capital equipment and turnkey manufacturing lines to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) modules and cells, today announced its Chairman and CEO, Roger G. Little, Spire Solar’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, Stephen J. Hogan, and Spire’s senior management team will exhibit at the 25th ...
September 02, 2010 12:45 PM
TORONTO, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ - Wind and solar developers, manufacturers, suppliers and Ontario Feed-in Tariff administrators are looking forward to discussing the challenges and opportunities of building the province's wind and solar supply chains next month. All will be gathering on October 5-6 in Toronto for the Ontario Feed-in Tariff Supply Chain Forum which aims to answer the critical questions around supply chains challenges for wind and solar FIT projects including transmission expansion and Economic Connection Tests (ECTs).
This timely event includes 50+ speakers and is sponsored by Navigant Consulting, Siemens and Enfinity. "Ontario's FIT program has accelerated the adoption of solar PV in Ontario, however; the long-term success of the program will rely heavily on the supply chain," says Chris Young, General Manager, Enfinity Canada Ltd, who is speaking at the event. "Collaboration between stakeholders is important as we work toward achieving a supply chain that is responsive and sustainable while delivering solutions that are cost-competitive, reliable and bankable in the global market and meet domestic policy requirements."
The forum presents an excellent opportunity for FIT project developers, wind and solar manufacturers and suppliers, and scheme administrators to discuss the FIT scheme and outline the necessary steps to ensure the program's success. "I am looking forward to the opportunity to visit with colleagues in the wind energy industry - clients, competitors, developers and others," comments Michael Barczak, VP of Sales for DMI Industries, who is also presenting at the forum. "I also look forward to learning about any breaking news and developments that typically surface at these types of events."
Vancouver-based Day4 Energy, who is licensing its solar technology to select Ontario manufacturers looking to diversify, is also presenting at the forum. "I'm looking forward to hearing the issues that others in PV supply are facing and how they are dealing with them," comments John Stonier, Vice President of Strategic Planning and Treasurer at Day4 Energy. "This is a new market with many opportunities to explore. The forum provides an excellent opportunity to understand them."
The Ontario Feed-in Tariff Supply Chain Forum is being supported by a strong group of industry organizations and partners including the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA), The Great Lakes Wind Network (GLWN), the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA), the Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO), Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), The Green Energy Act Alliance, the Canadian Renewable Energy Alliance (CanREA), Canada Newswire, Electricity Today, Renewable Energy World, Recharge, and McMillan LLP.
September 02, 2010 11:49 AM
TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASYS), a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of solar cells, semiconductors, and silicon wafers, today announced that its solar subsidiary, Tempress Systems, Inc., has received approximately $37 million in new solar orders for its diffusion processing systems from several new and existing customers in Asia. Including these most recent orders, Amtech’s total solar orders to-date in fiscal 2010 has reached approximately $157 million. Amtech’s fiscal 2010 began October 1, 2009.
J.S. Whang, Chief Executive Officer of Amtech, commented, “These latest orders further demonstrate the quality and depth of our expanding solar customer base, and our ability to provide excellent product and service to the industry. We believe the intense effort by our customers and the solar industry to increase cell efficiency will continue to drive demand for our superior diffusion technology. We continue to see excellent quotation activity and remain focused on continued successful execution of our solar growth strategy.”
September 02, 2010 11:41 AM
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Silicon Genesis, a leader in process and technology for engineered substrates announced today that it has started production of solar wafers using its new high volume manufacturing PolyMax system. In an industry first, SiGen has produced 85μm thick, 156 mm square kerf-free monocrystalline silicon wafers. Kerf is the material converted into saw dust, inherent in all sawing processes. This achievement delivers the first true mono c-Si kerf-free wafering for the PV industry.
The introduction of the PolyMax high volume manufacturing system brings the industry one step closer to replacing wire saw processes with a lower cost waste-free wafering solution. A key strength of the PolyMax system is its ability to produce wafers thinner than is achievable with wire saw technology, allowing the industry to produce cells with higher conversion efficiencies and lower cost.
“We believe the benefit of using kerf-free wafers will allow the PV industry to reach unsubsidized grid parity. The start up of our high volume manufacturing system is a key step towards achieving this goal,” said Francois Henley, CEO of SiGen.
In an invited talk at the 35th IEEE PV Specialists Conference, Henley reviewed crystalline silicon kerf-free wafering technologies. At the upcoming 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (25th EU PVSEC) in Valencia, Spain, SiGen will present the PolyMax production system (2CV.1.53).
September 02, 2010 11:15 AM
Senseable City, developed by MIT to address the issue of urban infrastructure as it relates to digital technology, is planning to compete for the newly announced $10-million X Prize for a cleanup solution to the BP Gulf oil spill.
Called the Seaswarm project, the initiative is one of 42 under the auspices of MIT’s Senseable City since 2004. Project Director Carlo Ratti, Associate Director Assaf Biderman and their team have developed a robot named Seaswarm, powered by solar panels on its “head.”
The robot cleans up floating oil by catching it on a nanowire-covered conveyer belt. The captured oil is then “wrung out” of the paperlike nanofiber when the belt passes inside the head. The oil is either stored in a reservoir, or burnt off, and the newly cleaned conveyor belt is extruded to pick up more oil.
The solar photovoltaic (PV) cells on top of the robot’s head allow it to keep moving for several weeks, unlike units deployed in the Gulf earlier in the summer, which had to dock constantly for maintenance and only collected about 3 percent of the estimated 5 million barrels of oil from the broken well.
Inventors describe the process as “seamless,” because oil collection begins the moment the nanowire belt emerges from the head. They are hoping their 7-foot wide “oilbot” – a square, yellow box that looks like a short sidewalk trash container with a 16-foot long conveyor belt hanging out of the opening – can capture the X Prize.
The X Prize Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding radical, technological breakthroughs that benefit humanity, is currently offering $10 million to the inventor(s) who produce a viable, cost-effective solution to the BP Gulf oil spill.
The Seaswarm, replicated to 5,000 or even 10,000 units, could potentially clean up the BP Gulf oil spill in a month, thanks to swarm robotics algorithms delivered via GPS and wireless technology to maximize motion capture, as well as the paper-like nanofiber’s ability to absorb up to 20 times its weight in oil.
Even at a cost of $20,000 per unit, designers estimate their cleanup costs for a leak the size of the BP spill to top out at $200 million. BP has already paid about $6 billion to clean up its Gulf disaster with little success.
A Seaswarm prototype has already been tested in Massachusetts’ Charles River. The August trial run demonstrated that the conveyer belt was fully adaptable to surface waves, and the solar PV cells allowed it to move forward without hindrance. Best of all, the whole assembly is reusable.
September 02, 2010 11:13 AM
BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR), a global solar company providing capital equipment and turnkey manufacturing lines to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) modules and cells, today announced its Chairman and CEO, Roger G. Little, Spire Solar’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, Stephen J. Hogan, and Spire’s senior management team will exhibit at the 25th European PV Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) in Valencia, Spain at Level 2, Hall 4, Booth 15.
At the conference, Spire will introduce its Spi-Line™ 20MW (Megawatt) Assembly Line, which will assemble 20MW of modules per year, offering new entrants into the market a greater than 30% reduction in capital expenditure (CAPEX) costs per watt. The new line incorporates several systems introduced in 2010, including Spire’s latest Spi-AssemblerTM 7000 and Spi-LaminatorTM 1837, along with its Spi-Sun SimulatorTM 4600 single long-pulse, and other critical manufacturing and testing equipment.
The Conference will take place from the 6th to 10th of September 2010 at the Feria Valencia in Valencia, Spain. The EU PVSEC is considered the most important international conference in the field of PV. During this time, the 5th World Conference on PV Energy Conversion will also occur.
Spire’s Vice President of Solar Marketing, Mr. Mark Willingham, will present Advanced Metrology Solutions for High-Volume Module Production from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 7, in the Sala Ausias March section of the Exhibition Area. Mr. Hogan will also be participating in the EPIA B2B Workshop as a Panel participant in Accelerating the Transfer from Lab to Fab on Thursday, September 9th.
September 02, 2010 11:06 AM
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Clean Fuels, Inc. (PinkSheets:NACF) cheered a report this week from a top investor that China will likely introduce more measures in the coming year to support the development of cleaner energy, boosting shares of solar companies.
Bloomberg News reported that Shi Bo, the general manager of Shanghai Elegant Investment Co., recommends that investors favor shares of Chinese solar companies as that government promotes cleaner sources of energy. According to Bloomberg, Shi oversees about $400 million dollars and his fund outperformed 98 percent of China-domiciled funds in the past year.
“China’s shift away from energy-intensive and polluting industries to a low-carbon economy is one of the key investment opportunities in the next three years,” Shi said. “You have to invest in sectors that the government is advocating.”
China, the world’s biggest polluter, could spend up to 5 trillion yuan over the next decade developing cleaner alternatives to energy derived from fossil fuels, said Jiang Bing, head of the National Energy Administration’s planning and development department, in July. China is already the global leader in solar technology manufacturing.
National Clean Fuels is poised to capitalize on the explosive growth of solar technology in China. The company is dedicated to implementing profitable development partnerships that advance clean-fuel technologies around the globe. The Chinese solar economy includes companies such as Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL), Suntech Power (NYSE: STP), Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE) and LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK).
For more information, please visit www.nationalcleanfuels.com.
September 02, 2010 11:02 AM
BURTONSVILLE, Md. & TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New Energy Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: NENE) announced today that its SolarWindow™ technology, the first-of-its-kind, small-scale prototype capable of generating electricity on see-thru glass, will be publicly unveiled for the first time on September 16th, 2010 at the University of South Florida (USF).
Electricity generated by New Energy’s SolarWindow™ on prototypes of see-thru glass windows will be demonstrated at 2:30 p.m. EDT at the University of South Florida at this location: Science Center (SCA) Board Room (411) & Research Laboratory (421), where both natural and artificial light sources will be used as power sources. The demonstration will be led by Dr. Xiaomei Jiang, lead researcher at the Department of Physics at the University of South Florida, whose work with the world’s smallest working organic solar cells to generate electricity on see-thru glass was made possible. Additionally, John A. Conklin, President and CEO of New Energy Technologies, Inc. will be among the event’s hosts.
New Energy researchers have developed a working prototype of the Company’s SolarWindow™ technology in preparation for eventual full-scale production. Low production costs, improved manufacturability, and increased power performance are among important, recently announced objectives researchers are now targeting. Key to these advances is the development of new methods and technologies for applying New Energy’s electricity-generating coatings to see-thru glass surfaces. New Energy’s working prototype serves as a model for future advancements to various surface coating techniques and methodologies for applying SolarWindow™ coatings to see-thru glass.
“The public demonstration of our novel SolarWindow™ technology is a very exciting milestone for all our stakeholders, including the research team, management, and shareholders of New Energy,” stated Mr. John A. Conklin, President and CEO of New Energy Technologies, Inc. “We’re eager to demonstrate how far we have come in developing the first-ever technology of its kind with the potential to radically change the way in which we power the estimated 80 million detached homes and 5 million commercial buildings in America, and throughout the world.”
Electrical power is generated on see-thru glass when New Energy’s SolarWindow™ coatings are sprayed onto surfaces using commercially available technologies. This patent-pending process enables researchers to spray SolarWindow™ coatings onto glass at room temperature, eliminating expensive and often cumbersome high-temperature or high-vacuum production methods commonly used by current solar manufacturers.
Until now, solar panels have remained opaque with the prospect of creating a see-thru glass window capable of generating electricity limited by the use of metals and various expensive processes which block visibility and prevent light from passing through glass surfaces.
"We applaud Dr. Jiang for her ongoing work and collaboration of the research team at the Physics lab at the University of South Florida for helping us develop an early scale working prototype of SolarWindow™ along with significant breakthroughs with transparency and the production of electricity on see-thru glass,” commented Mr. Conklin. “A new day is dawning for us and the general public as we look forward to combating escalating energy costs and concerns over the environment."
Researchers are also working to bolster the electrical power output of SolarWindow™, generated from both natural sunlight and artificial sources such as fluorescent lighting typically installed inside commercial offices and incandescent bulbs inside residential homes. Unlike conventional solar technologies, New Energy’s SolarWindow™ generates electricity from both natural and artificial light sources, outperforming today’s commercial solar and thin-film technologies by as much as 10-fold under low-intensity irradiance.
About New Energy Technologies, Inc.
New Energy Technologies, Inc., together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, is a developer of next generation alternative and renewable energy technologies. Among the Company’s technologies under development are:
* MotionPower™ roadway systems for generating electricity by capturing the kinetic energy produced by moving vehicles – a patent-pending technology, the subject of nine patent applications in the United States and two international patent filings. An estimated 250 million registered vehicles drive more than six billion miles on America’s roadways, every day; and
* SolarWindow™ technologies which enable see-thru windows to generate electricity by ‘spraying’ their glass surfaces with New Energy’s electricity-generating coatings. These solar coatings are less than 1/10th the thickness of ‘thin’ films and make use of the world’s smallest functional solar cells, shown to successfully produce electricity in a published peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy of the American Institute of Physics.
Through established relationships with universities, research institutions, and commercial partners, we strive to identify technologies and business opportunities on the leading edge of renewable energy innovation. Unique to our business model is the use of established research infrastructure owned by the various institutions we deal with, saving us significant capital which would otherwise be required for such costs as land and building acquisition, equipment and capital equipment purchases, and other start up expenses. As a result, we are able to benefit from leading edge research while employing significantly less capital than conventional organizations.
September 02, 2010 10:54 AM
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September 02, 2010 10:46 AM
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