Rise & Shine: October 24, 2008
The Rise & Shine is your daily source for all solar-industry news. Brought to you by Sweet Solar Home and the Experts at SunRun.
CALIFORNIA NEWS
Solar Power: Not Just For Electricity
At Kimberlina’s unveiling, PG&E CEO Peter Darbee warned against letting the financial crisis derail the fight against global warming. ?PG&E stands ready to take on the challenge of financing renewables.?
Perpetual Power Completes PV System at Limoneira Ranch
Mitsubishi Electric and Perpetual Power (P2) have completed of one of the largest installations on a citrus orchard in the United States.
NATIONAL NEWS
Collaboratory Funds 12 New Solar Research Projects
The Center for Revolutionary Solar Photoconversion (CRSP) is launching 12 novel solar research projects totaling more than $1.1 million in its inaugural round of research and development funding.
City Unveils Federal Solar Power Initiative
With their DOE Solar America Cities award, Milwaukee, WI unveiled the Milwaukee Shines initiative, said the director of the city?s Office of Sustainability.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
NY-NJ Transit Agency Plans to Buy Carbon Credits
The Port Authority of NY and NJ awarded $2.5M in contracts to carbon brokers. The companies will buy carbon offset credits beginning next year to help reduce the agency’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Duke Chops $100M Distribution Solar Project in Half
The utility filed the revised proposal earlier this week after facing strong objections from commercial customers and the commission staff representing consumers
The Matrix Overloaded: Clean Energy Will Depend on a New, Smart Grid
Cool devices to harness pollution-free energy won’t do much to lessen the country’s fossil-fuel dependence unless aging and unsophisticated infrastructure is vastly updated to transmit it.
Oregon Approves Greenhouse Gas reporting Rules
Beginning in 2010, all facilities that emit more than 2,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide (or equivalent volumes of other greenhouse gases) will be required to report their emissions totals.
Power Company to Cue Investors on Pollution Risks
The owner of several coal-burning power plants has agreed to let investors in on the financial costs of global warming.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Novera Says May Sell Equity to Beat Credit Crunch
Smaller renewable energy operators may have to sell more equity in projects to raise money during the credit squeeze, a Novera Energy executive told a clean technology conference this week.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Booming Colorado PV Market May Soon Bust
Although the rapid growth of Colorado’s PV industry has been among the country’s best PV success stories, the state’s industry now faces extreme uncertainty in 2009 and there is the potential for significant market retraction and resulting loss of jobs.
TECHNOLOGY
Australia Has Best Solar Cell Efficiency
Australian scientists at the University of New South Wales say they have become the first to achieve 25 percent efficiency in a silicon solar cell.
New Handheld Instrument Improves Solar PV Designs and Maximizes Returns
The device allows users quickly to model the effects of changing surroundings and data can be exported directly into spreadsheets or industry standard solar design software. Trials in the UK have already demonstrated the value of SunEye.
BioSolar Files Comprehensive Patent for BioBacksheet Photovoltaic Solar Component
The patent application is expected to give BioSolar full protection on its BioBacksheet breakthrough technology made from renewable plant sources that will reduce the cost per watt of solar cells.
EdgeWave Lasers for Thin Film Modules
EdgeWave GmbH presented its relaunched BX3I-ET and BX3II-ET lasers at the European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference (EU PVSEC) in Valencia.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Suntech Reinforces its Commitment to Tackling Climate Change by Joining The Climate Group
The Climate Group, a global, independent organization dedicated to accelerating action on climate change. Suntech is the first and only solar energy company to join The Climate Group.
China Sunergy Signs Silicon Ingot Supply Agreement
China Sunergy has entered into a multi-year agreement for a supply of high quality 8 inch single crystal silicon ingot with the Japanese Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation.
Isofoton to Electrify 165 Schools in Guatemala and El Salvador
Spain’s Isofoton has won the tender for the rural electrification of 165 schools in Guatemala and El Salvador, which will permit 10,000 persons in a rural environment access to education.
When in Rome: Sidestepping the obstacles of the Italian PV Market
With the Italian PV market?s feed-in tariff secure up to the end of 2010 and the creation of more photovoltaic plants, Italy has found itself entertaining offers from international PV companies.
Honda Soltec Starts Public, Industrial Sales of CIGS Solar Modules in Japan
Honda Soltec said it will start selling copper-indium-gallium-(di)selenide thin-film-based solar modules for public and industrial use throughout Japan.
Are you in California and interested in solar for your home? Call us at 877.SUN.MOJO or visit our website to learn more.
Click here to subscribe.