China Sunergy expects to ship up to a total of 10MW of monocrystalline solar modules, which are manufactured under sub-contracted OEM arrangement, to NU Energy, with partial shipments having begun in
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NU Energy Chief Executive Officer
Monday, August 31, 2009
China Sunergy Signs 10MW of Sales Contracts With Australian Photovoltaic Firm
Solomon Technologies Energizes First Instant Solar(TM) PV System
DANBURY, Conn., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Solomon Technologies, Inc. (Pink Sheets: SOLM) announced today that its Technipower subsidiary has installed its first Instant Solar(TM) system at its Danbury, CT headquarters. The pre-assembled, pre-wired system, which is a self contained unit comprising two solar arrays and all the equipment necessary to tie to the power grid, was easily and quickly erected and electrically connected. The Company has a patent pending on the system.
Dan Connors, President of Technipower said, "Our installation demonstrated how easily the system can be placed in service at a customer's site. Instant Solar provides an appealing alternative to solar installers, electrical contractors, building services providers, architects, and energy consultants who are expanding their business into the solar market and want flexibility without complexity. Since our recent announcement and local press coverage, we've had a very positive response from a number of industry channels."
Connors continued, "In being our own customer, this installation has provided us valuable insights in streamlining the sales and installation process to improve the overall value proposition to the end user. We expect to install additional solar units at our Danbury headquarters and at our Reynosa, Mexico facility and to ship the first commercial units during the fourth quarter of this year."
LDK Solar Partners with Suqian City on PV Projects
XINYU CITY, China and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LDK), a leading manufacturer of multicrystalline solar wafers, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Suqian City of Jiangsu Province for the development of PV power projects. According to the agreement, LDK Solar will develop PV power projects in buildings, plants and integration systems, totaling up to 300 MW by 2015. The terms, including financing, design and specific location of each of the projects, will require a feasibility study as well as final approval from relevant governmental departments prior to initiation.
"Suqian City has unique advantages in developing PV projects, with average annual sunshine of up to 3,000 hours as well as strong support from the government for growing the solar energy industry," stated Xu Huiming, Vice Mayor of Suqian City. "Suqian City has become a leading area for the development of the solar PV industry and we hope that our partnership with LDK Solar will further increase our solar resources and promote the expansion of the local solar industry."
"We are very excited to partner with Suqian City and to support the development of its local economy and Chinese solar industry," stated Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO of LDK Solar. "We are encouraged by the continued support from our government for PV projects and pleased with the enthusiasm for this partnership demonstrated by Suqian City."
The PV application market has been rapidly developing in China this year and the Chinese government is supporting the establishment of the domestic PV market through the use of governmental financial subsidies.
Evergreen Solar and Jiawei Solar Hold Ceremonial Groundbreaking at Wuhan, China Manufacturing Plant
MARLBORO, Mass. and WUHAN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a ceremony today in Wuhan, China, Evergreen Solar, Inc. (NasdaqGM: ESLR), a manufacturer of String Ribbon™ solar power products with its proprietary, low-cost silicon wafer technology, and its contract manufacturing partner, Jiawei Solarchina Co., celebrated the groundbreaking for their new 100 megawatt manufacturing plants.
Evergreen Solar Chairman, President and CEO Richard M. Feldt was joined by Mr. Qing-Quan Lo, Hubei Province party leader; Mr. Hong-Zhong Li, Governor of Hubei Province; Mr. Song Yang, Wuhan City party leader; Mr. Chen-Fa Ruan, Wuhan City Mayor and other high ranking government officials as well as Professor Ding Kongxian, chairman of Jiawei Solarchina Co., Ltd., and senior management from Jiawei and the Hubei Science & Technology Investment Co for the ceremony celebrating the start of the plant’s construction, which actually began in July of 2009. Construction is on schedule to be completed by spring 2010.
These manufacturing plants are part of an agreement between Evergreen Solar and Jiawei through which Evergreen Solar will manufacture String Ribbon wafers using its state-of-the-art Quad furnaces at this leased facility being built on Jiawei’s campus. Jiawei will convert the String Ribbon wafers into Evergreen Solar-branded panels on a contract manufacturing basis.
“Today represents an important step in the growth of Evergreen Solar,” said Feldt. “When you combine Evergreen Solar’s unique wafer technology and Jiawei’s high quality, cost efficient cell and panel conversion processes, we believe we have a winning formula that will produce the best performing and lowest cost multi-crystalline solar panels in the world. We’re extremely pleased that construction proceeds according to schedule and look forward to beginning production of our String Ribbon solar panels in the spring of 2010.”
Ascent Solar to Present at Upcoming Investor Conferences
LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI), a developer of state-of-the-art, flexible thin-film photovoltaic modules, announced that Dr. Mohan Misra, Founder, Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer will present to the investment community at the following investor conferences during the month of September 2009.
- September 9, 2009 Rodman & Renshaw Annual Global Investment Conference, at the New York Palace Hotel in New York, NY.
- September 10, 2009 Cowen and Company’s 3rd Annual Clean Energy Conference, at the Le Parker Meridian Hotel, New York, NY.
- September 11, 2009 Seventh Annual Ardour Capital/Baker & McKenzie Energy Technology Conference, New York, NY.
About Ascent Solar Technologies:
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. is a developer of thin-film photovoltaic modules with substrate materials that can be more flexible and affordable than most traditional solar panels. Ascent Solar modules can be directly integrated into standard building materials, space applications, consumer electronics for portable power or configured as stand alone modules for large scale terrestrial deployment. Ascent Solar is headquartered in Thornton, Colorado. For more information, go to www.AscentSolar.com.
ICP Solar to Introduce iSun® Mobile Products
MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ICP Solar Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: ICPR.OB, FRANKFURT: K1U.F), a developer and marketer of innovative, proprietary solar panels and products, today announced that the Company plans to introduce its long-anticipated line of iSun®-branded portable solar chargers before the end of September. The chargers, targeted to road warriors and urban explorers who are always “on the go,” will easily interface with most cell phones and PDAs and are designed to be scalable, modular, pocketable, and attractive. They will be sold through distributors worldwide and over the Company’s website.
“We are excited to finally bring to market these fresh, cutting-edge solar chargers designed specifically for today’s huge portable communication market,” said Sass Peress, Chairman and CEO. “Our iSun® products – offered in sleek, user-friendly applications that are as attractive as they are practical – represent the next generation of innovation at ICP Solar and are designed for the billions of cell phones and PDAs already operating worldwide. For power-hungry smart phones, mobile music players, and GPS devices, the iSun® will offer a practical, easy-to-use answer for getting energy quickly and efficiently. ICP Solar, in broadening its portfolio beyond its existing sunsei®, Coleman®, and Energizer® brands, expects to see accelerating revenue growth and improved bottom line results as it provides dependable solar solutions for all kinds of lifestyles.”
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Suniva ARTisun™ Solar Cells Surpass 18% Efficiency in Production
NORCROSS, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Suniva, Inc., the only U.S. manufacturer of high-power monocrystalline silicon solar cells, today announced that its ARTisun™ series solar cells are achieving conversion efficiencies of more than 18 percent in production, a record for screen- printed cells in regular full-scale production.
“Customers are expecting high-quality, high-efficiency products at lower costs,” said John Baumstark, CEO of Suniva. “Suniva continues to lead these market requirements, delivering cells, and modules from our partners, that strike a sensible balance of power and affordability.”
Suniva’s ARTisun series solar cells are manufactured with optimized metallization techniques and proprietary process innovations, both of which maintain low cost while extracting the highest efficiencies possible. Suniva produces solar cells which are integrated into high-performance solar modules available through Suniva and its global customer partners.
Suniva also announced today the start of production on its second manufacturing line at the Norcross plant. The new 64MWp line will triple the production capacity of the facility to approximately 100MWp.
“Our strategy supports both rapid expansion and continual technology advances,” said Baumstark. “Less than a year ago, we opened the doors to our first facility. Today, we have entered our next stage of growth and development with a significant manufacturing expansion.”
Through processes initiated by Suniva founder and CTO, Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi, and further developed in Suniva’s R&D lab, the company has achieved certified efficiencies of more than 20 percent on screen-printed cells in the lab (certified by NREL). Suniva plans to steadily raise its commercial cell efficiencies above 20 percent through a series of incremental design and processing innovations.
“Suniva has a strong technology and market advantage because our patent portfolio is based on laboratory innovations that we can translate into cost-efficient manufacturing processes,” said Rohatgi.
Ascent Solar Internally Certifies Module Encapsulation Material for Its Flexible PV Laminate, Reaches Major Milestone
THORNTON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI), a developer of state of the art flexible thin-film solar modules, announced today the successful internal qualification of a packaging solution for its flexible monolithically integrated CIGS modules. In internal qualification testing, its flexible packaging solution successfully passed the rigorous standard of one thousand (1,000) hours of damp heat testing (85% relative humidity and 85° C temperature) guideline set forth by IEC 61646 standards for performance and long term reliability of thin film solar modules.
Dr. Farhad Moghadam, CEO of Ascent Solar, stated, "This is a breakthrough development not just for Ascent Solar but also for the advancement of flexible CIGS technology and the differentiating capabilities it brings to the market. We are very proud of this achievement which now sets the stage for certification of our products by external agencies. This is also well timed to meet the requirements of our initial production from the 30 MW high volume manufacturing plant scheduled to commence at the beginning of 2010.”
Fluor Wins Contract for eSolar Reference Plant
IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that the company was awarded an engineering services contract by eSolar, Inc., for the design of a 46 megawatt concentrating solar power (CSP) plant. Fluor will provide design optimization to rapidly scale eSolar’s 46 megawatt power plants. The undisclosed contract value was booked in the company’s third quarter of 2009.
“Fluor is well-positioned to play a leading role in the global EPC renewable energy market,” said Dave Dunning, president of Fluor’s Power Group. “Our proven expertise in designing and building power generation facilities will further validate and strengthen eSolar’s technological advancements and bolster their ability to deploy their unique design worldwide to meet their business agenda.”
“We believe that Fluor’s superior engineering strength will lead to faster and broader deployment to meet the rising global demand for renewable energy. With our first 5 MW power plant in the ground and delivering electricity to the grid, we are thrilled to have Fluor onboard to help scale this new breakthrough in solar technology to meet customer demand,” said Bill Gross, chief executive officer of eSolar.
Fluor’s southern California operations center is leading the effort on this project with an immediate start date. Fluor will perform detailed studies focused on optimizing performance, constructability and cost. This will include basic engineering for a reference plant design that will be used to provide a scalable design package to potential developers worldwide.
Over the last three decades, Fluor’s experience in the renewables sector includes work in the solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal and air quality improvement sectors. Earlier this year, Fluor’s Power Group created a dedicated business line to specifically address the needs of the global renewable energy market.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Magnolia Solar Appoints Dr. Roger E. Welser as Chief Technical Officer
WOBURN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Magnolia Solar, Inc. today announced that Dr. Roger E. Welser has joined the company as its Chief Technology Officer. He will be responsible for leading the development of next-generation high-performance solar cells employing advanced nanostructured materials. Dr. Ashok Sood, President and CEO of Magnolia, stated “We are extremely pleased to have Dr. Welser join the Magnolia team and lead our technology development efforts to increase the efficiency and lower the cost of thin film solar cells.”
Prior to joining Magnolia, Dr. Welser served as Director of Technology and New Product Development in III-V materials at Kopin Corporation, a leading innovator in the area of nanosemiconductor materials and devices, located in Taunton, MA. Dr. Welser’s research and development group at Kopin has led the industry in bandgap engineering the material structure to continuously improve the performance and cost of GaAs-based transistor devices. Dr. Welser has also been actively involved in the field of photovoltaics. His graduate studies were supported by the NASA Graduate Student Researcher’s Program, with a focus on materials for high-efficiency, multi-junction III-V solar cells. More recently, Dr. Welser has won funding from NASA, DARPA, and the NSF to pioneer the development of quantum solar cell structures.
Dr. Welser received his Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Yale University in 1995 and an undergraduate degree in Physics with honors from Swarthmore College in 1989. Dr. Welser is an author of more than 70 publications, patents, and presentations.
Magnolia Solar, Inc. is developing innovative nano-based solar cell technologies for terrestrial applications. Based in Woburn, MA, Magnolia’s solar cell technology will cover the UV, visible and infrared parts of the solar spectrum to enhance device performance and lower costs.
Over the next decade and beyond, the use of photovoltaics for energy production is expected to grow from its current less than one percent to over 10 percent. The emphasis for next-generation solar cell technology is to develop nano-based processes that can be grown on low-cost materials such as glass or polymers, and to bring the cost of the solar electric energy generation to less than one dollar per watt.
Nuclear Power Plant Goes Solar With Off-Grid LED Outdoor Lighting
VICTORIA, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--One of California’s largest state utilities, Southern California Edison (SCE), is lighting up the night with solar technology at its San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). To illuminate its main employee parking areas, Edison is equipping the site with solar-powered LED lights from Carmanah Technologies (TSX: CMH). By using solar technology as an alternative to traditional grid-powered lights, the EverGEN™ 1500-series lighting system can provide a reliable source of bright uniform illumination while avoiding the costs and challenges typically associated with trenching, cabling, and accessing electrical grid power.
Featuring custom BetaLED® light fixtures, Carmanah solar-powered lights offer superior output and performance in accordance with IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America) guidelines. A full-cutoff “Dark Sky”-friendly design directs light only where needed (preventing glare or spillover of light onto neighboring properties or into the night sky), while integrated energy management capabilities ensure optimal lighting performance year round. With no bulbs to replace and a five-year battery life, the EverGEN 1500 lights will help Southern California Edison reduce maintenance and operating costs while serving as a lasting, practical investment in renewable energy technology.
EverGEN 1500-series solar LED lights are available now from Carmanah Technologies. For more information, visit www.carmanah.com.
TUUSSO Energy Secures Funding for Utility-Scale Solar Projects
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seattle-based TUUSSO Energy recently completed a $2 million financing round to fund early-stage development of utility-scale solar projects in the Western United States. Pivotal Investments, a clean technology focused venture capital firm based in Portland, Ore., led the investment round. Pivotal’s investment comes alongside an existing partnership with Akula Energy Ventures, which will be co-investing directly in TUUSSO's development projects.
“This financing is a big step forward and accelerates the rate at which we can turn pipeline projects into active projects,” said Owen Hurd, President of TUUSSO Energy. “The timing couldn’t be better – it allows us to act on opportunities created by the recent economic downturn, at a time when banks and utilities are more sensitive than ever to the financial health of their partners. Pivotal's involvement will also open up new opportunities, through their industry expertise and pre-existing relationships with institutional lenders and tax investors.”
“We are excited about the investment in TUUSSO for many reasons,” explained John Miner, Managing Director, Pivotal Investments. “We really like the opportunity to invest with such a smart and promising team. This investment also allows us to take advantage of two significant trends – decreasing costs for solar technology and a rapidly growing demand for renewable energy. We think the investment in TUUSSO provides an excellent way for our investors to take advantage of these trends,” Miner said.
TUUSSO's first project, TA-High Desert, is scheduled for completion in early 2011 and will supply 20MW of solar-generated power to Californian utilities.
Simple Solar Partners with Spinnaker to Optimize Its Supply Chain
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Simple Solar has initiated a comprehensive, long-term, strategic partnership with Denver-based Spinnaker, one of the nation’s leading Supply Chain consulting firms. This week, the two companies kicked off a multi-threaded approach to leverage Spinnaker’s depth and experience in Supply Chain Strategy, Transformation and Business Process Outsourcing as a cornerstone in Simple Solar’s evolution to national prominence.
Simple Solar Founder & CTO, Joe Callahan, said, “We are looking to Spinnaker to enable us to institutionalize the process of designing and implementing world-class solar power systems - at speed and scale, while not sacrificing the quality and excellence that we have built our reputation on since starting our business over a decade ago.”
Spinnaker Co-Founder and Managing Principal Rob Benson is leading Spinnaker’s efforts by applying the principals and lessons learned from working with some of the world’s leading semiconductor and high-tech companies. Initially, Simple Solar will leverage Spinnaker to apply “Design for Supply Chain” principals to designing solar energy solutions – in the process making optimal vendor and labor decisions. “Spinnaker is excited to have the opportunity to work with such a progressive thought leader in the solar industry. They have exhibited tremendous foresight and maturity to fully leverage the Supply Chain as they grow their business,” said Benson.
Mr. Benson holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of California at Berkeley. He is a recipient of the Franz Edelman Award for Management Science Achievement for his work on optimization based planning systems while at UC Berkeley.
California’s First Utility-Scale PV Solar Farm Breaks Ground
MENDOTA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cleantech America broke ground today on California’s first utility-scale photovoltaic solar project to be approved under the state’s Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) program. Named CalRENEW-1, the solar farm is located in the City of Mendota in California’s Central Valley and will provide 5 megawatts of emission-free solar electricity to PG&E under a long-term power purchase agreement. The facility is scheduled to begin operation before the end of the year and when completed will be one of the largest photovoltaic solar projects in California.
CalRENEW-1 represents a successful collaboration between the Company, PG&E and the City of Mendota to create green jobs, improve air quality and demonstrate the viability of large-scale PV solar to help California meet its renewable energy goals.
“As a zero emission, solar facility, CalRENEW-1 will move the San Joaquin Valley one step closer toward cleaner air and create dozens of green jobs in a city embracing the new clean energy economy. It has taken the support and hard work of many dedicated individuals and we are all extremely excited to be commencing construction,” said Bill Barnes, CEO of Cleantech America.
Mendota Mayor Robert Silva, who earlier shared a California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) award with Cleantech America for the project, is looking forward to the facility’s construction and completion. “The City of Mendota is proud to be a leader in the new clean energy industry,” he noted.
Cleantech America was recently acquired by Meridian Energy Ltd. the largest electricity generator in New Zealand, which generates power entirely from renewable resources. CalRENEW-1 is the company’s first U.S. solar project and is a model for its U.S. growth strategy.
CalRENEW-1 will be one of the most advanced photovoltaic solar facilities in the world, helping California meet its stringent renewable energy and carbon reduction goals. Avoided emissions from CalRENEW-1 will be an estimated 6.3 million lbs/year of CO2, the primary source of global warming and climate change, plus 6,905 lbs/year of NOx and 5,451 lbs/year of SO2 (source: EPA eGRID2002 database). In addition to environmental benefits, the solar farm is anticipated to provide economic benefits.
Quanta Services will provide engineering, procurement and construction services for the project, which will utilize Sharp thin film modules, recently introduced in the U.S.
SunWize Empowers Neighborhoods to Go Solar
KINGSTON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SunWize Residential Power Systems, the premier solar installation division of SunWize Technologies, Inc., has introduced a Neighborhood Solar Program to support communities, towns and counties with their green initiatives.
The SunWize Neighborhood Solar Program is designed to promote solar energy by encouraging people to band together and realize a volume discount on their systems. Through the program, SunWize teams with neighborhoods, homeowner associations and municipalities to organize meetings and provide education to interested homeowners.
The SunWize program offers discounts off of market price ranging from five percent for five homes, 10 percent for 10 homes, and 15 percent for 15 homes or more. Coupled with existing state rebates and the Federal tax credit, this program reduces the total cost of a SunWize solar electric system by more than 50 percent. Launching a program is simple. A group representative contacts SunWize to schedule a kick-off meeting. Once a group initiates a program, it runs for a period of 60 days, during which time the participants enter into contract and receive their discount.
“We often encounter enthusiastic solar champions and wanted a way to empower them to energize their friends and neighbors,” explains David Kaltsas, executive vice president at SunWize. “The SunWize Neighborhood Solar Program gives these advocates resources to host an educational kick-off meeting conducted by one of our SunWize experts and financial incentives through the program’s group discounts. SunWize makes it easy for forward-thinking communities and neighborhood groups to go solar.”
In addition to existing statewide solar incentives and goals, many local jurisdictions are now offering their own programs. Examples are San Jose’s Green Vision Plan and local government administered low cost, long term financing solutions made possible by California’s Assembly Bill 811. The SunWize Neighborhood Solar Program also encourages homeowners to come together to ensure these local initiatives are successful in bringing solar to their communities.
Complementing the Neighborhood Solar Program is a new Residential Solar Financing Program offered by SunWize, which effectively overcomes one of the biggest barriers to the widespread adoption of solar: the upfront cost of the system. With its Solar Financing Program, SunWize offers homeowners a higher level of flexibility, convenience and affordability when going solar.
For homeowners, homeowner associations and communities interested in learning more about the SunWize Neighborhood Solar Program, please visit: http://sunwize.com/NeighborhoodSolar or call us at 408-510-5185.
Friday, August 21, 2009
New Belgium Brewing Announces On-Site Solar Array
FORT COLLINS, CO--(Marketwire - August 21, 2009) - New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale, announced today that they will begin installation of the largest privately owned solar array in Colorado on August 25. The 200 kW system will produce 16% of New Belgium's peak electrical load and 3% of their total electrical energy use. The array is part of the brewer's commitment to Fort Collins' FortZED initiative. Fort ZED is a public/private partnership that aims to create the world's largest "active zero energy district" through Smart Grid and renewable energy technology.
New Belgium, along with several other Fort Collins entities -- such as the City, CSU, Spirae, Brendle Group, Advanced Energy, and Woodward -- responded to a request from the Department of Energy to demonstrate peak load reduction. The partners were one of nine groups nationwide to receive such a grant and see it as an excellent opportunity to jump start FortZED.
"We're excited to include a fairly large solar PV installation as part of our total load reduction project portfolio," said New Belgium Sustainability Director Jennifer Orgolini. "It nicely compliments our current on-site generation which uses methane from our process water treatment plant, and the new generation capacity, thermal storage and demand response technologies we'll also be adding for peak reduction. The five projects we're doing to reduce peak will cost over $3 million, but the DOE grant and partner contributions allow us to help further research required to make distributed generation and smart grids a reality for the whole country."
New Belgium became the country's first brewery to subscribe to 100% wind powered electricity in 1998 and can produce up to 15% of its electrical needs by capturing methane from its process water treatment plant to fire a co-generation engine which produces heat and electricity on site.
The solar array will cost just over $1 million, and New Belgium will receive reimbursement for up to 40% through the Department of Energy grant. Boulder-based Namaste Solar is contracted for the integration. The 870 panels will rest atop New Belgium's packaging hall where engineers estimate it can power the bottle line up to eight hours on a sunny day.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Solomon Technologies' Subsidiary Files Patent for Instant Solar(TM) Product
DANBURY, Conn., Aug, 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Technipower LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Solomon Technologies, Inc. (SOLM.PK), announced today that it has filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office a patent application for Instant Solar(TM), its new solar photovoltaic (PV) product. Instant Solar(TM) is a factory pre-assembled, pre-wired ground mounted solar PV system, initially targeted to the 2-10kW size range that is also suitable for both portable and flat roof mount applications.
Dan Connors, President of Technipower, LLC, said, "Instant Solar's innovative concept and design make it easy to manufacture, easy to ship and easy to install. It has the potential to accelerate small scale solar PV deployment in many market segments. Instant Solar(TM) is available for sale now."
Connors continued, "Instant Solar(TM) is the first of several products in Technipower's new clean energy, solar product line and represents a significant step in our expansion from a traditional power supply business to a supplier to today's fast growing renewable energy markets."
Applied Nanotech Selected to Receive Funding for the Development of Solar Technology
AUSTIN, TX--(Marketwire - August 20, 2009) - Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc. (
During this two year Phase II Small Business Innovation Research program, Applied Nanotech will focus on improving methods for the application of metallic electrodes to silicon photovoltaic (PV) substrates using its unique metallic nanoparticle-based inks. Electrical contacts are a critical part of PV technology and represent a difficult and costly area for solar cell production. This development program will exploit advances in nanotechnology to lower manufacturing costs and improve solar cell efficiency.
This program is particularly important since using very thin silicon wafers in an effort to reduce silicon usage has resulted in wafers that are susceptible to breakage when utilizing traditional contact printing methods such as screen printing.
"Our company is just beginning our foray into renewable energy. This funding will allow us to continue to build upon our expertise in development of nanoparticle-based technical inks for applications of global significance with strong commercial potential," stated Douglas Baker, CEO of Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc.
ReneSola Signs Letter of Intent with Wuzhong Government to Develop 150 MW On- grid Solar Power Project
JIASHAN,
"We are pleased to announce our new 150 MW on-grid solar project in Wuzhong, which adds to our track record of partnering with local governments to develop sustainable solar projects," said Mr. Xianshou Li, ReneSola's chief executive officer. "Our vertically integrated solar manufacturing capabilities continue to position us to capture opportunities presented by the government's increased focus on establishing alternative energy sources."
Mr. Li added, "We are excited by
Sixtron Enters Asian Market with Order from Top 10 Solar Cell Manufacturer
MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sixtron Advanced Materials, a provider of safe and efficient silane-free antireflective coatings systems, announced today it has secured an evaluation purchase order from a leading Asian solar cell manufacturer for its SunBox gas delivery system. The Sixtron system is a plug-and-play solution that provides cost savings and cell efficiency improvements while reducing downtime. Sixtron’s application specialists will support the production evaluation of the SunBox system with the new customer to achieve system optimization and ensure seamless integration into existing and new manufacturing lines.
“The Asian PV cell market is a critical global market and Sixtron is investing to support our customers there with new resources on the ground,” said Zbigniew Barwicz, CEO of Sixtron. “This order demonstrates that the leading manufacturers are ready to engage with us to deliver a plug & play replacement solution to the costs and hazards of silane.”
The customer announcement comes after Sixtron was recently awarded the Cell Award for Best Process Technology in Crystalline Silicon Cell Manufacturing at Intersolar in Munich. Sixtron’s SunBox was recognized for its cost-savings potential by solar industry leaders.
Solar cell manufacturers have traditionally depended upon silane gas to deposit critical anti-reflective and passivation coatings on crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells. Silane gas is pyrophoric, meaning it ignites on contact with air, and imposes substantial operational risks and costs on manufacturers.
“After receiving validation of our benchmark solar cell results with our research partners, such as the Georgia Institute of Technology, Sixtron is now taking the next step and deploying our tools to the top global PV cell manufacturers,” continued Barwicz. “Sixtron’s novel SiCN films produced by our SunBox gas generation system deliver innovation and ultimately increased profit margins to our customers while maintaining complete compatibility with typical PECVD manufacturing processes.”
Sixtron works directly with c-Si cell manufacturers to remove the burdens of silane through its SunBox gas generation system. The SunBox system gasifies a harmless solid polymer precursor to produce gas with equivalent, and even improved, results as compared to a silane system. In March, Sixtron announced leading plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) equipment providers are working to integrate the SunBox into their turnkey offerings to cell manufacturers.
Lieberose Solar Farm Becomes Germany’s Biggest, World’s Second-Biggest
TURNOW-PREILACK, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Lieberose solar farm under construction in Brandenburg on Thursday became the world’s second biggest solar power plant and Germany’s biggest, Wörrstädt, Germany-based juwi Group and First Solar Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) announced.
The announcement followed the placement of the 560,000th solar panel in the project by German Infrastructure Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee and Brandenburg Minister President Matthias Platzeck.
The solar farm still under construction in Turnow-Preilack, near Cottbus, is in several ways a landmark project for the solar industry. Despite the current economic and financial crisis, the two companies are building a utility-scale project with a total investment volume of more than €160 million. With an output of about 53 megawatts and with a size of more than 210 football fields, it is the second-largest PV installation in the world.
“The Lieberose project demonstrates the success of Germany’s strategy of combining local production of renewable energies with other strengths, including the knowledge and expertise that resides in local companies, networks, research organizations and universities. It’s the combination that makes German competitiveness,” German Infrastructure Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee told 300 invited guests at the official inauguration.
“Lieberose is a model not just in terms of power and financing, but also in the conversion of military and other unused land,” said Platzeck. “Land that was contaminated and off limits for years is being cleared of munitions and other pollution without any financial burden on the owner of the land, the state. The Lieberose solar park is an important step toward making solar electricity a significant force in the local economy,” he added.
The project is being developed on the largest former military training site of the Soviet army in Germany. Due to the relatively low investment and operating costs, it is possible to pay Brandenburg an attractive lease that finances the restoration of the site, including the removal of metal and soil contaminated by leftover grenades, shrapnel and munitions. After the end of the lease period, the solar farm can be removed, restoring the land to its natural state.
“We aim to enable a global power supply with clean and cost-efficient solar energy. The Lieberose project alone will help save about 35,000 tons of CO2 per year,” say First Solar Managing Director Stephan Hansen and juwi Head Matthias Willenbacher. “We are especially proud of this project, because it is also ‘clean’ in another sense of that word. It is not only generating clean energy, but also ensures the removal of dangerous munitions.”
As general contractor, juwi partner juwi Solar GmbH is responsible for planning, logistics, supervising construction and delivering the finished solar farm, which is expected to be sold to an investor upon completion. “Solar farms such as Lieberose are very important for the future of all of the renewable energies,” said Willenbacher and Hansen. “By their size and the efficiency with which the solar panels are produced, they contribute to significantly lower prices and to accelerating the advent of competitive solar electricity. This clearly increases the acceptance of solar energy,” they said.
Lieberose is scheduled to be fully operational by the end of this year. Upon completion, about 700,000 thin film modules, predominantly from First Solar’s nearby Frankfurt/Oder factory, will produce enough climate-friendly electricity to cover the equivalent electricity needs of about 15,000 households. In addition to producing the solar panels, First Solar helped finance the project.
| The solar power station at a glance: |
| Capacity: approx. 53,000 kilowatts |
| Area: 162 hectares (over 210 football fields) |
| Module surface area: approx. 500,000 m² approx. 700,000 thin filmmodules (First Solar) |
| Annual yield: around 53 million kWh (corresponding to the annual consumption of around 15,000 households) |
| CO2 saving: approx. 35,000 tonnes per year |
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Urban Eco Electric, New Philadelphia Electric Company, Hosts "Beer for Bills" Events
PHILADELPHIA, PA--(Marketwire - August 19, 2009) - On August 20 and August 27, 2009, homeowners are invited to learn how they can get free solar panels and lower their electric bills during "Beer for Bills" events Urban Eco Electric (UEE) is sponsoring. Urban Eco plans to install 5,000 solar PV systems on Philadelphia homes with no upfront cost to the homeowner. These events are a chance to learn how they can participate in helping the environment while saving on their electric bills.
August 20 August 27
Belgian Café Manayunk Brewery
2047 Green Street 4120 Main Street
Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia, PA
(215) 235-3500 (215) 482-8220
Urban Eco, a new kind of power company, is making solar energy affordable and practical for Philadelphians. Now urban residents can participate in going green without the prohibitive upfront costs. Through UEE's first-of-its-kind lease program, homeowners can lower their carbon footprint while reaping sizeable savings on their ongoing electric bill.
A brief overview of Urban Eco's solar equipment lease program:
-- Homeowners enter into a lease agreement for 20 years with Urban Eco Electric who then assumes all the upfront costs as well as ongoing maintenance.
-- Urban Eco then reduces the homeowner's (average) electric bill by 50% for the first two years of the lease.
-- Further savings are realized in years three and beyond when Urban Eco freezes their electric bill for the remainder of the lease. Pennsylvania will see significant rate hikes when the legal rate caps are removed in 2011.
-- Overall realized savings are roughly $20,000 to $30,000 for the panels; $15,000 for electricity savings.
David Blumenfeld, Philadelphia real estate attorney and founder of Urban Eco Electric, says, "Without this program, solar power would be virtually unattainable for many homeowners. I'm glad we can provide a way for our neighborhoods to benefit while creating a brighter, cleaner future for us all."
For more information, please visit www.go-uee.com. Homeowners are invited to call (215) 909-6814 for more information or a free in-home consultation. Contact information: Petrina Fisher Wells, Wells Marketing Group, www.wellsmarketinggroup.com.
Bakhu Holdings Corp. Announces the Appointment of Mr. Aidan Huwang as Director
LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwire - August 19, 2009) - Bakhu Holding Corp. ("the Company" or "we") (
Mr. Huwang is a member of the National Bar Association in the PRC and has over 15 years' experience practicing law in the PRC. In addition to his Chinese law degree, he also has earned an LLM from the University Of Aberdeen Law School in Scotland. He is currently a senior partner and the Shenzhen office manager with V&T Law Firm specializing in corporate law, acquisitions and litigation.
Since its inception in 2002, Bakhu Solar built its business by purchasing solar cells from solar cell manufacturers, which it utilized to manufacture a wide range of solar products for commercial and consumer applications. In 2004, the company compounded its success by expanding to make PV solar panels. Today, Bakhu produces PV solar panels and a wide array of solar products, all of which use solar cells as the power source.
The completion of the merger between Bakhu Holdings Corp. and SXSE is contingent on the completion of an audit by a PCAOB designated accounting firm. Once the merger is completed, Bakhu Holding Corp. will change its name to Bakhu Solar Corp and will continue to pursue the same successful, aggressive growth strategy that was implemented by SXSE, a profitable private company that was established in 2002 in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, Peoples Republic of China. Since its inception, SXSE -- to be known as Bakhu Solar -- built its business by manufacturing a wide range of solar products for commercial and consumer applications. In 2004, the company compounded its success by expanding to make PV solar panels. Today, the company produces PV solar panels and a wide array of solar products, all of which use solar cells as the power source.
SXSE manufactures and sells 35 different PV solar panels, ranging from 10W (watts) to 250W. These PV solar panels are used in both industrial and residential applications. Bakhu uses high quality solar cells which it purchases from cell manufacturers in Japan and Taiwan. Solar products manufactured by Bakhu for commercial and consumer use include portable lights for various applications, lane markers, solar streetlights, solar traffic lights and battery chargers.
Bakhu employs 100 workers in its manufacturing operation and 10 engineers who design products and oversee the fabrication processes. The factory is located in an industrial part of Shenzhen and occupies 1500 square meters.
Bakhu Holdings Corp. is a public company that plans to enter the green energy business by acquiring a solar manufacturer that is based in China. The target company that Bakhu Holdings Corp. plans to acquire is Shenzhen Xinhonglian Solar Energy Co., Ltd (SXSE). The completion of the merger between Bakhu Holdings Corp. and SXSE is contingent on the completion of an audit by a PCAOB designated accounting firm, which is followed by the transfer of SXSE's assets to a Hong Kong-based company.
TGI Solar Enters Into Strategic Alliance With Prime Solar srl
RED BANK, NJ--(Marketwire - August 19, 2009) - TGI Solar Power Group (
"We are very pleased to be working with TGI Solar Power Group," said Raoul Derito, VP of Operations for Prime Solar. "We are looking forward to supporting TGI's existing projects, as well as working to identify new opportunities in sustainable energy. Green Energy is the future, with the rising cost of energy globally, and we are excited to jointly develop and commercialize promising renewable energy technologies around the world."
Prime Solar srl is a licensed and insured Italian Solar Energy Contractor and Solar General Building Contractor. We specialize in the creation and installation of custom-designed residential and commercial solar electric power, solar heating, and wind energy systems. By handling the job from the solar system design all the way through to the installation and final inspection of the system, we bring continuity through our turnkey approach.
OPEL International and BETASOL Celebrate Phase Two Completion of One of World's First Commercial HCPV Power Installations
The HCPV installation, which is one of the first commercial installations in the world, now generates 220 kW of electricity to the power grid and provides increasing revenue for BETASOL. OPEL unveiled this photovoltaic power plant to potential customers in a four-day early summer preview event. The installation is located in the Tarragona region of Spain, a prime location for solar development.
The preview event demonstrated one of the first operable solar grid fields in the world using OPEL's HCPV leading edge solar technology. Attendees at the unveiling were prospective customers, technical institutions and investors from across Europe and Africa. Visitors touring the system site saw that this leading edge solar technology is now a scalable source of solar electric power generation.
OPEL built this installation with its Mk-I high concentration panels (HCPVs) mounted on dual axis trackers. The combination of OPEL's HCPV panels and precision dual axis trackers results in a higher power production per unit of land (acre/hectare) than silicon or thin film flat panels with a potential to increase photovoltaic yields by up to 40 percent. The balance of the installation is expected to be done during the third quarter of 2009. When the project is fully completed, it will supply electricity to over 350 households.
"We are pleased to have hosted potential customers enthused to see OPEL's HCPV system because they can experience first-hand HCPV and its ability to have a major impact on the future of solar technology across European, African and other global markets," said Robert Pico, CEO of OPEL International.
"Being able to visit BETASOL's solar grid farm and to see OPEL's HCPV panels mounted on dual axis trackers vividly demonstrated that advanced HCPV technology is ready now to deliver scalable electric power," said Laurent Pignol, Responsable Montage et Financement de Projets for CARI Construction Services Compris, one of the leading French construction companies.
"We at BETASOL are very pleased to unveil this project for potential customers and investors to witness the deployment of renewable solar electricity to the power grid using HCPV, one of the most advanced solar technologies in the world today," said Jesus Cabetas, Managing Director of BETASOL. "Our partnership with OPEL is an outstanding success. Visitors can see the system's efficiency using HCPV panels on dual axis trackers, thus making the rate of return provided by the Spanish feed-in tariff structure even more attractive to investors."
According to the firm, OPEL's concentrating solar photovoltaic Mk-I HCPV panel design is a cost competitive solution concentrating light from the sun more than 500 times. This technology has conversion efficiencies up to twice those of silicon flat plate solar panels and more than three times that of thin film solar panels.
OPEL plans additional customer visits to the site in September and will continue to report on its progress with this leading solar technology as it completes the final phases of this project.
SunSi Energies Signs Definitive Joint Venture Agreement
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - August 19, 2009) - SunSi Energies Inc. (
As previously released, SunSi Energies Hong Kong Ltd will own 90% of a new company specifically formed to own the assets, expertise and technology of an existing Trichlorosilane production facility with a current production capacity of 25,000 MT per year.
The new company, to be called Zibo Boayun Chemical Company Ltd, will produce TCS, a chemical used in the production of polysilicon, an essential raw material used during the production of solar cells for photovoltaic (PV) panels that convert sunlight to electricity. TCS is considered the first product in the solar PV value chain before polysilicon, and is also the primary source of ultrapure silicon for the semiconductor industry.
This acquisition strategically positions SunSi as the first company with focused operations specializing in TCS production to have their common stock publicly traded in the U.S.
Under the Joint Venture agreement recently signed, all of the assets, including permits, rights, land usage, as well as the entire labor force and management team of the Chinese TCS producer will be transferred, upon closing of the transaction, into the newly formed Joint Venture Company of which SunSi Energies Hong Kong Ltd will own 90% of the equity. While, the current name plate capacity of the facility is 25,000 metric tons of TCS per year, SunSi has committed to double this over the next 12 months. While this transaction is taking place, the TCS production facility continues its normal activities.
"We are delighted to move forward with the Zibo team. They are well respected as a TCS producer and we feel that we've teamed up with the best TCS producer in China. Both teams share the same goals and we are proud of the relationship we've built over the last 6 months. We can now focus on expanding production at the current facility and focus on business outside of China which is already coming our way," said Mr. Michel G. Laporte, President of SunSi Energies Inc.
Suntech Achieves World Record Conversion Efficiency for a Multi-Crystalline Module
WUXI,
Suntech's world record breaking multi-crystalline silicon module is powered by Pluto PV cells utilizing solar grade silicon with each PV cell having a conversion efficiency well over 17%. The previous record was based on an aperture area or frameless module. In contrast, Suntech's new world record efficiency includes the framed area, without which Suntech believes it would achieve a conversion efficiency of well over 16%.
The world record conversion efficiency was accepted by the scientific journal Progress in Photovoltaics (PIP), which offers a prestigious forum for reporting advances in the PV industry. Professor
Dr.
Suntech has initiated commercial shipments of Pluto powered modules and currently expects to ship 10MW to 15MW of Pluto products in 2009.
Clear Skies Solar Announces $12 Million Exclusive Strategic Partnership With Leading Residential Installer
NEW YORK, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Clear Skies Solar, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CSKH), a leading provider of turnkey solar electricity installations and renewable energy solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with MyNJSolar, LLC, a leading residential solar installer based in Holmdel, NJ. MyNJSolar is a privately-held company headed by Rob Stolker, CEO, that installs high-quality residential and commercial PV systems throughout the state of NJ.
"We look forward to working with the entire group at MyNJSolar. With great leadership, an engineering background and an eye on quality, we expect this partnership to evolve into a multi-year alliance," says Ezra Green, CEO of Clear Skies Solar.
MyNJSolar, the fastest growing solar company in NJ, has found that aligning with Clear Skies Solar for all their commercial work will prove more profitable and yield better work product than working alone.
"After working with several other commercial solar companies, Clear Skies Solar has proven by far to outperform in the industrial & commercial arena. Their past performance and in-house capabilities make for many satisfied customers and a very strong future. Our stellar reputation has opened the door for many large scale commercial projects. We needed a reliable partner to handle the volume of commercial work that comes our way while still maintaining the quality that our customers expect and CSS fits the bill perfectly," says Rob Stolker, CEO of MyNJSolar.
"We expect to deliver at least 500-700 kW of projects to CSS based on our current customer base, past sales and growth rate through 2009. Our projections for 2010 exceed two megawatts now that the markets and economy have stabilized and we look forward to expanding on that pipeline with CSS."
SEPA Commends Southern California Edison Solar Projects
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) commends the announcement today that Southern California Edison and First Solar have agreed to build two large-scale solar power projects in southern California. The agreement marks a key milestone in achieving SEPA’s prediction that electric utilities will quickly become the largest and most important customer for the solar industry. According to Southern California Edison (SCE) and First Solar, the two installations will have a generation capacity of 550 megawatts of photovoltaic solar electricity, enough to provide power to approximately 170,000 homes.
“In the past year, we have seen a large and vital shift in solar power development,” said Julia Hamm, executive director of SEPA. “Especially given the tough financial conditions, we continue to see that not only have utilities become essential partners for the solar power industry, but they are taking leadership positions more every day. The solar industry is rising to the challenge and showing excellent growth.”
Today’s announcement illustrates one of the key drivers of the current solar industry: utility-driven projects. While many of the largest solar power projects announced in the last year have used solar-thermal technology, the new SCE projects will use thin-film solar photovoltaic panels that convert sunlight directly to electricity. “Innovation from a variety of solar companies is rapidly reducing the cost of solar power, and announcements like this are indicators of the solar industry’s scale-up to meet utility-scale needs. Research shows that we are reaching the point at which solar power is as or more cost-effective than traditional sources of power in certain U.S. locations,” continued Hamm.
According to nationwide data collected by SEPA and reported in its 2008 Top Ten Utility Solar Integration Rankings Report, Southern California Edison already has a total of 441 megawatts of solar power integrated in its service area, more than any other utility in the country. The company also installed or interconnected more than 32 megawatts of new solar capacity in 2008, ranking second in the nation for new solar integration.
“California utilities have been leading the way on utility-driven solar power for years, and Southern California Edison is doing its part both with this announcement and the 500 MW of distributed PV that was recently approved by the California Public Utilities Commission,” said Kim Kiener, SEPA’s western regional director. “Today’s announcement demonstrates how California utilities are working diligently to meet renewable energy goals with solar power and commanding national leadership in the process.”
The agreement between First Solar and Southern California Edison covers the 250-megawatt “Desert Sunlight” project near Desert Center, and the 300-megawatt “Stateline” project in northeastern San Bernardino County. According to Southern California Edison, the plan will be submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission for approval, and both projects are scheduled to be completed in 2015.
The state of California aims to generate 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2010. The state is considering legislation to add a goal of 33 percent by 2020.
To arrange interviews with or comments from Julia Hamm, SEPA executive director, or Kim Kiener, SEPA western regional director, contact Emily Chamberlin Douglas at 650-762-2945 or emily.douglas@ar-edelman.com.
First Solar, LADWP Contract for 55 Megawatts of Solar Electricity
TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today announced a contract with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to build a large-scale solar power project in Imperial County, Calif. The installation will have a generation capacity of 55 megawatts (MW).
First Solar will design, engineer and construct the 55MW Niland project using its advanced thin film solar modules. Construction is expected to begin next year and be completed in 2011. The contract is conditioned on approval by the Los Angeles City Council and the mayor of Los Angeles. The solar arrays will require building permits from Imperial County.
About First Solar
First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) is changing the way the world is powered by creating clean, affordable, and sustainable solar energy solutions. First Solar manufactures solar modules with an advanced semiconductor technology and provides comprehensive photovoltaic system solutions. By constantly decreasing manufacturing costs, First Solar is creating an affordable and environmentally responsible alternative to fossil-fuel generation. With over 4,000 employees around the world, the company is headquartered in Tempe, Ariz., and has manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Germany, and Malaysia.Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Kender Energy Announces the Successful Completion of Phase 1 Testing on Its Revolutionary Solar Power Engine
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND--(Marketwire - August 18, 2009) - Kender Energy Inc. (
"The phase 1 testing proves the Kender Solar Power engine principle, which is to have the ability to generate mechanical energy from an input combination of electrical energy added to an air temperature differential, for a higher mechanical energy output than the initial electrical energy input," said CEO Sean Kelly. These tests are very encouraging for the future of Kender Energy and open the door to a new generation of solar energy devices, which can have high coefficients of performance (COP), along the same magnitudes as those of heat pumps.
This successful phase does not yet create a finalized product. However, It clearly states the capability of the engine to produce a desired energy output. Several additional tests will need to be carried out in the near future, working mainly on the materials resistance to thermal differentials.
First Solar, Southern California Edison Sign Contracts for 550 MW of Photovoltaic Solar Electricity
ROSEMEAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Solar, Inc. and Southern California Edison (SCE) today announced agreements to build two large-scale solar power projects in Riverside and San Bernardino counties in Southern California. The installations, which will be among the largest of their kind, will have a generation capacity of 550 megawatts of photovoltaic solar electricity, enough to provide power to approximately 170,000 homes. The agreements are subject to approval by the California Public Utilities Commission.
“Southern California Edison is always looking for innovative ways to deliver clean power from renewable sources. First Solar is an excellent partner in helping us achieve our goals,” said Stuart Hemphill, SCE senior vice president, Power Procurement. “This agreement is good for our customers, for the industry and for the environment.”
First Solar will engineer, procure and construct the two solar facilities, using its industry leading thin-film photovoltaic solar modules. The projects are the 250 megawatt Desert Sunlight project near Desert Center, Calif., and the 300 megawatt Stateline project in northeastern San Bernardino County. Pending network upgrades and receipt of applicable governmental permits, construction is scheduled to begin in 2012 for Desert Sunlight and 2013 for Stateline. Both projects are expected to be completed in 2015. Several hundred construction jobs are expected to be created at each site. When completed, the solar projects will produce 1.2 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy per year.
“Supplying solar power to Southern California Edison and its customers advances our mission of providing clean, affordable and sustainable solar electricity,” said John Carrington, First Solar executive vice president, Marketing and Business Development. “These projects will help California reach its renewable energy goals, and are powerful examples of large-scale photovoltaic solar generation becoming a reality in the United States.”
California currently has a goal of delivering 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2010 and is considering legislation to increase the goal to 33 percent by 2020. SCE is the nation’s leading purchaser of renewable energy and, in 2008, delivered 12.6 billion kilowatt-hours of energy to its customers from renewable resources – about 16 percent of its total energy portfolio. In addition, the utility delivered more than 65 percent of the solar energy produced in the United States for its customers in 2008.
Suniva® and OneWorld Sustainable Partner on Solar Schools Project
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Suniva®, a Norcross, Georgia manufacturer of high-efficiency, low-cost silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells, and OneWorld Sustainable, a Georgia-based renewable energy company, are partnering to install solar panels Powered by Suniva® PV cells in schools across the state.
The installation leverages OneWorld’s ongoing involvement with Sun Power for Schools, an educational program created four years ago by non-profit Green Power Electric Membership Cooperative (Green Power EMC). School administrators across Georgia use the program to teach students about renewable energy and the many benefits of sustainable living.
“We are pleased to be partnering with OneWorld Sustainable on the Sun Power for Schools project,” said John Baumstark, Suniva® chairman & CEO. “After all, students today are extremely aware of the importance of clean energy. Suniva’s goal is to continue to produce high-power solar products as a cost-effective alternative to non-renewable fossil fuels. This program is a great vehicle to showcase the benefits of solar energy and Suniva solar modules powered by our leading cell technology. We are especially proud to manufacture our solar cells right here in Georgia.”
The program exemplifies the opportunity Georgia has to capitalize on a growing solar industry. OneWorld President and CEO Tim Blackwell said, “We are excited to partner with a company of Suniva’s caliber, especially considering their local manufacturing presence. In addition to the program’s educational benefits to students, we believe this partnership demonstrates the potential of the solar industry to create jobs in Georgia and contribute to the economic development in the state.”
Launched as a non-profit corporation in 2003, Green Power EMC is Georgia’s first renewable energy program and is currently comprised of 38 individual EMCs. For each school participating in the Sun Power for Schools program, Green Power EMC donates small, interactive grid-tied PV systems and brings on-line PV system monitoring into the classroom. Since 2005, OneWorld has installed systems at 25 schools through the Green Power EMC program, and expects to have Suniva®-powered panels installed in five additional schools by the end of 2009.
Borrego Solar Systems Named One of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc. Magazine for the Third Consecutive Year
EL CAJON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Borrego Solar Systems, Inc., a leading financer, designer and installer of grid-connected solar electric power systems, has been named one of America’s fastest-growing companies by Inc. Magazine for the third year in a row. Ranked number 321, Borrego Solar grew at an impressive rate of 754.4 percent over the past three years. Borrego Solar is also ranked 14th among top energy companies and seventh among the fastest-growing businesses in the San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. area.
“Being honored by Inc. Magazine for the third consecutive year is further testament to the continued recognition of solar power as a leading alternative energy source as well as Borrego’s commitment to offering the highest-quality services possible,” said Mike Hall, CEO of Borrego Solar Systems, Inc. “We are extremely pleased with this recognition and anticipate continued growth as we evolve our business model to help organizations across the U.S. reap the financial and environmental benefits of solar energy.”
Borrego finished 2008 with $58 million in revenue and more than $90 million in contracts, having completed some of the country’s largest solar projects for schools, companies and government agencies. Most recently, Borrego announced a new financing option for commercial and government organizations interested in adopting solar energy. Borrego’s new power-purchase agreement (PPA) program provides customers a new, simple way to finance a solar project without having to assume the up-front costs of the project or work with a third-party financier. Borrego has already received interest in the program in Massachusetts, New Jersey and California and expects to see continued growth while increasing the size and scope of the projects it designs, builds and manages.
“If you want to know which companies are going to change the world, look at the Inc. 500,” said Inc. editor Jane Berentson. “These are the most dynamic, fast-growth companies in the nation, the ones finding innovative solutions to problems, creating smart systems, and inventing products we soon discover we can't live without. The Inc. 500 list is Inc. Magazine’s tribute to American business ingenuity and ambition.”
BioSolar Files Patent for BioBacksheet™-A Thin Film Photovoltaic Solar Module Component
SANTA CLARITA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BioSolar, Inc. (OTC BB: BSRC), developer of a breakthrough technology to produce bio-based materials from renewable plant sources that reduce the cost of photovoltaic solar modules, announced today that the company has recently filed a patent application to protect the innovations behind its proprietary BioBacksheetTM-A, a bio-based backsheet featuring an absolute moisture barrier for the thin-film solar cell market.
BioBacksheetTM-A is a three layer laminate film consisting of a 100 percent recyclable aluminum foil center core sandwiched between two outer layers of bio-based polymer films, making it a unique product in the industry.
“BioSolar's goal is to reduce the costs of solar modules and make solar energy greener by replacing petroleum-based module components with bio-based materials made from renewable plant sources,” said Dr. David Lee, CEO of BioSolar. “Patent filing and protection of our intellectual property is an important milestone as we continue our journey toward full-scale commercial production for many of the company’s new products.”
This patent filing follows the recent news that BioSolar has not only accepted the challenge of developing a backsheet with a water vapor transmission rate of essentially zero, which is necessary for thin film solar module components such as cad-telluride and CIGS, but also the initial pilot line run of this backsheet was highly successful. Testing of these samples continues as the company moves toward commercialization.
BioSolar’s complete line of backsheets meet or exceed the characteristics of various testing and performance standards for the photovoltaic industry and are expected to cost significantly less than petroleum-based films currently in use by the majority of solar module manufacturers today.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Hoku Materials Granted Foreign Trade Zone Status by U.S. Commerce Department
POCATELLO, ID--(Marketwire - August 17, 2009) - Hoku Materials, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hoku Scientific, Inc. (
Hoku reported that it expected the subzone status would contribute to the facility's long-term global competitiveness, explaining that FTZ procedures would exempt the Company from customs duty payments on foreign materials used in export production.
Specifically, the ruling will allow Hoku to import foreign-sourced raw materials in a duty-free status, provided they are destined for export overseas as components of finished polysilicon. Under its existing customer supply agreements, more than 80% of Hoku's total annual production capacity of polysilicon, and 100% of what has been presold to date, is destined for export to China, meaning that an equivalent percentage of the Company's raw material inputs would be eligible for import in a duty-free status.
Hoku explained that it had been granted subzone status under the existing Foreign Trade Zone established for Boundary County in Northern Idaho, the only FTZ in the state. Hoku Materials' facility will be the only designated Foreign Trade Subzone in Idaho.
"We are pleased to have been granted the Foreign Trade Subzone status," said Dustin Shindo, chairman and chief executive officer of Hoku Scientific. "This ruling helps ensure that our facility will remain globally competitive over time."
"For many reasons, Hoku is a unique case study in today's economy," said Gynii Gilliam, Executive Director of the Bannock Development Corporation. "Hoku's Pocatello plant will not only be a net exporter to China, but thanks to the Commerce Department's ruling, it will have the ability to compete internationally on a level playing field. This outcome is not only good for Idaho's emerging clean energy manufacturing base, but it is good for the U.S. renewable energy industry in general."
When complete, the Hoku Materials facility is expected to produce up to 4,000 metric tons of polysilicon per year.
NEA Welcomes Solar Industry Veteran and Former SunPower COO PM Pai as Venture Partner
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA), a leading global venture capital firm, today announced that solar industry veteran PM Pai has joined the firm as a Venture Partner. Mr. Pai, who has more than 30 years of manufacturing and mass production expertise spanning several industries and is the former Chief Operating Officer (COO) of SunPower, will work with NEA's energy technology team to advance the firm's robust portfolio of more than two dozen companies in the sector.
"PM brings a wealth of expertise in manufacturing and production to bear at an incredibly pivotal moment for the industry, and NEA is very excited to welcome him to our energy technology team," said Peter J. Barris, Managing General Partner of NEA. "Only by rapidly commercializing promising new technologies can the U.S. reduce its dependency on foreign resources and lower the cost of clean, renewable energy, and PM is among the most highly regarded leaders in this space."
"I am very pleased to be associated with NEA and to play a role in the fast-track development of the firm's renewable energy portfolio companies," said Mr. Pai. "NEA has some very innovative technology companies in its portfolio and I look forward to strategically assisting these companies throughout their growth and expansion to be leading players in the sector."
Mr. Pai is currently a director of two NEA portfolio companies, Suniva, Inc., a manufacturer of high value monocrystalline solar cells, and Deeya Energy, developer of an advanced energy storage platform. From April 2005 to July 2008, Mr. Pai was the COO of SunPower and was responsible for strategic planning, production expansion, and supply chain development on a worldwide basis. Prior to SunPower, he served for four years as president of Moser Baer India Ltd., the world's second largest manufacturer of optical storage media. Mr. Pai graduated from Mysore University, India, in Mechanical Engineering. His graduate work also includes an M.Tech Industrial Engineering, with distinction, from IIT Chennai and the Advanced Management Program (ISMP) at Harvard Business School.
NEA's portfolio companies in the energy technology sector represent approximately $500 million of committed capital. The firm's broad portfolio of investments includes companies in solar, nuclear, advanced batteries, fuel cells, smart grids, lighting, and energy-efficient building material.
ZEBASOLAR INC's Indian Subsidiary Awarded 10MW PV Power Station in the State of Gujarat
BEDMINSTER, N.J., LONDON and DELHI, India, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ --
ZEBASOLAR INC is proud to have been chosen out of the numerous applicants as one of the allotted companies for India's first major allocation of Solar farms in the State of Gujarat. The 743MW award of Solar concessions thus far is the largest in India and one of the largest allocations in the world to date by a Government.
The Gujarat PV Project involves an investment of 35 million euro on the part of ZEBASOLAR PVT LIMITED INDIA, a 85% subsidiary of ZEBASOLAR INC USA. This plant will have an annual power production of 16.37 million kWh, and a franchised operation term of 25 years. This win, the first for ZEBASOLAR in India, is on the heels of more than 500MW of Solar plant applications the company has made in various Indian states in early 2009.
In late January 2009, The Gujarat State Energy Agency (GEDA) planned an open tender to confirm the on-grid electricity price and technical solutions. An estimated total of 70 International majors and domestic energy players bid for with over 5,400 MW worth of tendered applications.
"We are very proud to have won our concession in The State of Gujarat, we commend the Honorable Chief Minister of the State, Mr. Narendra Modi as well as the Secretary of Energy Mr. Jagdeesan, for their vision and foresight in bringing Gujarat as the State which is not only leading the push in India to go GREEN, but also making an impact on the world market by announcing a concession of this size. ZEBASOLAR will bring its partners and technology to ensure that the State succeeds in its plans and initiatives and helping India become a renewable energy leader", stated Shahal Khan, Founder and President of ZEBASOLAR INC.
"The project is expected to start construction within 5 months and has to be completed within the 6 following months. Coming online estimated in mid-2010 and supplying the State with clean and efficient Solar Power", commented Majid Khan, Director of ZEBASOLAR INDIA.
All PV systems will be PV tracker panels, installed on land. ZEBASOLAR is in the process of setting up the GUJARAT joint venture company and confirming the EPC contract.
Acro Energy Announces Los Angeles Area Expansion
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acro Energy Technologies Corp. (TSX Venture: ART) a leading residential solar installation company, has signed a Letter of Intent to acquire Energy Efficiency Solar, Inc. (“EE Solar”) of Pomona, California.
Under the Letter of Intent, Acro Energy would acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of EE Solar for a purchase price of $1,950,000 consisting of a combination of cash, a promissory note, common stock in Acro Energy, and assumption of EE Solar debt.
EE Solar is a full-service solar energy company, installing residential and commercial solar systems in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties since 1989. EE Solar generated approximately $4.2 million in revenue in 2008, servicing customers from its offices in Pomona and Orange. Bill Korthof is the President of EE Solar today and will join the Acro Energy team.
“We are excited about adding Bill Korthof and EE Solar to Acro Energy,” said Harry Fleming, Chief Executive Officer at Acro Energy. “The acquisition of EE Solar is the first step in Acro Energy’s movement into Southern California. We believe that EE Solar and Acro Energy will build on each other’s strengths. This transaction is consistent with Acro Energy’s strategy of acquisition of leading independent solar installation companies, in addition to organic growth,” added Fleming.
“Southern California promises to be a strong growth market for us,” said Nat Kreamer, President (Interim) of Acro Energy. “Together, Bill Korthof and the team at EE Solar have a solid foundation for profitably delivering our high level of service to consumers planning to save money by going solar in the Los Angeles metro region.”
Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including negotiation and execution of a definitive acquisition agreement, completion by Acro Energy of a satisfactory due diligence review of EE Solar, receipt of all necessary contractual, regulatory and governmental consents and approvals, the absence of any material adverse change affecting EE Solar, and any necessary approval of the transaction by the TSX Venture Exchange.
Veeco Introduces NT9100S Optical Profiling System
PLAINVIEW, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Veeco Instruments Inc. (Nasdaq: VECO), a leader in scientific and industrial metrology, today announced the release of its NT9100S Optical Profiler System specifically designed to optimize photovoltaic (PV) cell production and process development. The new NT9100S combines the renowned performance of Veeco’s NT Series of white light optical profilers with new features and options to enable rapid, three-dimensional surface measurements on 6-inch crystalline silicon PV cells.
“Veeco has a very strong presence in the solar market,” said Mark R. Munch, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Veeco Metrology. “Now, with our customized NT9100S, we can offer unprecedented capability to monitor and control surface texture and, more importantly, to match specific surface measurements to solar cell efficiency early in the manufacturing process.”
Andrew Masters, Veeco’s Vice President of Segment Marketing and Business Development, added, “The NT9100S brings the power and flexibility of the NT Series Optical Profilers, along with a PV-specific stage and chuck, to solar cell production monitoring. We are excited to deliver an affordable, feature-rich metrology platform that can enable such a wide scope of efficiency-enhancing applications in solar cell research and production.”
About the NT9100S Optical Profiler
The NT9100S is based upon the workhorse NT Series product line, and adds a custom 156-millimeter programmable stage for edge-to-edge measurements on a 6-inch PV cell. Other standard features include a porous vacuum chuck that securely and safely affixes a standard PV cell, automation software, field stitching software, and patent-pending, ultra-uniform dual-LED illumination. Running on the industry-leading Vision® software platform, the NT9100S provides access to over 200 distinct analyses, and over 1000 critical parameters for process control and monitoring.
Solar Trust of America, LLC Targets Southwestern U.S. for Development and Construction of Utility-Size Solar Thermal Power Plants
CLEVELAND & BERKELEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Trust of America, LLC, a newly formed integrated industrial solar solutions company, today announced that it has entered into contractual arrangements with its business partners Solar Millennium and MAN Ferrostaal to provide the U.S. market with a complete turnkey solution in connection with the development, construction and financing of large-scale concentrated solar power (CSP) plants in the southwestern region of the United States.
The services offered by Solar Trust of America include Project Development; Plant Layout Design; Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC); Supply Chain Management; Plant Operations and Management; ready access to large-scale project financing; and equity participation. Solar Trust of America also announced that it has entered into an agreement to use Solar Millennium AG’s proven, in-house Flagsol parabolic trough technology exclusively in North America.
“We believe that we are the only CSP company providing a completely integrated solar solution using proven technology for utility size plants currently generating electricity for the grid,” said Uwe T. Schmidt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Solar Trust of America. “With thousands of fully-funded and completed industrial projects in the combined portfolios of our business partners, we expect to become the industry leader in the development and construction of these solar thermal power plants in the U.S.”
The company’s business partners include Solar Millennium AG, an international project and technology developer and supplier of parabolic trough collector technology used in powering solar thermal power plants; and MAN Ferrostaal Incorporated, a U.S. subsidiary of MAN Ferrostaal AG, a worldwide provider of industrial services and plant construction and engineering. As part of the launch of its business, Solar Trust announced that Solar Millennium, LLC, of Berkeley, California, a leading U.S. developer of solar thermal power plant technology, has joined the Solar Trust family as a wholly-owned subsidiary and will serve as the company’s solar thermal power plant development arm. Solar Millennium and MAN Ferrostaal are both contributing assets and technical expertise to Solar Trust of America and will be shareholders in the new company.
Utilizing the Project Development and Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) experience of its business partners and its exclusive arrangement for Flagsol’s parabolic trough technology and services in North America, Solar Trust is ideally positioned to build on the success of Solar Millennium, LLC’s June 17, 2009 announcement of the execution of power purchase agreements with Southern California Edison (SCE). The agreements, which are subject to approval by the California Public Utilities Commission, call for the development of two, 242 megawatt (MW) power plants, with the option to expand to include a third 242 megawatt plant, for a total of up to 726 megawatts of capacity, and provide for the purchase of the output by SCE over a 20-year period. These solar thermal power plants are expected to begin operation between 2013 and 2014.
Solar Millennium AG is the company responsible for the development of the Andasol 1, 2 and 3 solar thermal power plants constructed in Spain. Andasol 1 and 2, Europe’s first commercially operating parabolic trough power plants, are currently supplying electricity to consumers and businesses in Andalusia, Spain with environmentally friendly power that are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 150,000 tons per year, per plant compared to modern coal-fired power plants. Two of these plants feature large-scale thermal storage technology capable of extending power production for up to 7.5 hours per day after the sun sets. MAN Ferrostaal AG is leading the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) for Andasol 3, which is currently under construction in Andalusia and scheduled to be connected to the local grid in 2011.
“America’s energy future is at a critical crossroad,” said Josef Eichhammer, President and Chief Operating Officer of Solar Trust of America. “The challenge is to reduce our carbon footprint and energy dependency from imported fuel. Solar thermal energy is strategically critical to ensuring a sustainable energy future for America. The sun radiates enough energy in 40 minutes to supply the world’s entire power needs for a year, we simply have to harness it. We are working diligently with the region’s utilities to meet their future demand for renewable energy with proven parabolic trough solar power plants and energy storage solutions. With our new positioning we will leverage the experience of Solar Millennium AG in Spain and strengthen our efforts to achieve our growth objectives in the U.S.”
The company currently has multiple solar thermal power plants in advanced stages of development in the southwestern region of the United States. Each plant, if constructed, will feature highly efficient, environmentally friendly solar thermal power plants generating approximately 250 megawatts of electricity each, or enough energy from each plant to power 80,000 homes for a year.
Solar Trust embraces U.S. federal and state government policies and initiatives to provide significant infrastructure investments, job creation and supplier opportunities in renewable energy through such programs as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Guarantee Program for renewable energy projects.
Eichhammer said new government legislation will stimulate significant development of cost-efficient solar power plants across America’s Sunbelt region. “Solar energy provides comparatively low long-term generation costs with no additional fuel costs such as coal, oil, gas or uranium. As a result, solar thermal plants deliver clean, carbon-free power and an effective hedge against rising energy costs. Our goal is to secure 20 percent of the solar thermal energy market and set the benchmark for facilities of this size and capacity. We intend to be at the forefront in powering America’s future.”
Uwe Schmidt emphasized that the development, engineering, local procurement and construction of the utility-size thermal solar power plants should provide an economic boost to the region. “Each of these plants will include investments of more than $1 billion. Each plant is expected to directly employ more than 800 skilled workers during the initial construction phase and create approximately 100 permanent jobs for operations, maintenance and management employees. And, each plant is expected to indirectly create thousands of additional jobs as Solar Trust of America procures materials, goods and services for each facility in the U.S. We expect to generate sustainable revenue throughout the value chain by developing, constructing and operating the plants, while helping the region meet its renewable energy goals and stimulating its economies.”
Proven, Bankable Solar Thermal Technology
The solar thermal energy technology employed by Solar Trust of America has been technically viable for more than a quarter century. Today, there are dozens of solar thermal power plants currently in development, under construction or in operation worldwide using similar technology. A solar thermal power plant features large-scale, line-focusing parabolic trough collectors arranged in long rows of “farm-like” arrays that concentrate, capture and transfer the sun’s heat energy and feeds that energy into a steam-driven turbine that generates electricity. Members of our engineering team were instrumental in the development and construction of parabolic trough power plants which have been in continuous commercial operation and successfully feeding “peak load” power to the California grid for more than 25 years.
