Rise & Shine: August 28, 2009
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
CPUC Proposes New Feed-in Tariff Program
As proposed, renewable energy systems between 1 megawatt (MW) and 10 MW in size that deliver electricity directly to the utility grid can qualify for the new program.
Wine Country Goes Solar
Wineries in both counties have been gradually developing a quiet side hobby: using solar panels to produce electricity.
NATIONAL NEWS
Corporation Commission Approves APS Incentive Hike for Solar, Delays School Decision
The Arizona Corporation Commission approved a request for another $143 million in commercial solar system incentives to be given out by APS, but put off a decision on whether to fund schools with money dedicated to residential users.
groSolar Named as SunEdison Channel Partner
SunEdison is North America’s largest solar energy services provider, and groSolar is North America’s premier distributor, installer and integrator of solar energy solutions for residential and commercial installations.
Solectria Renewables Signs Distribution Agreement with Matrix Energy
Solectria Renewables has signed a distribution agreement with Matrix Energy Inc to distribute and market the company’s grid-tied inverters and accessories to the Canadian market.
Oregon Looks to Clean Tech for Revival
Oregon, facing the fourth-highest unemployment rate in the nation, has stepped up its campaign to lure clean-technology companies in an effort to pull itself out of the recession.
Hawaii Rolls Out New Marketing Plan
A new Web site is being launched Friday with information about initiatives in Hawaii, which is trying to become a leader in wind, wave, solar and thermal power.
Solar Energy Boom in Florida
The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern United States , SEIA, FlaSEIA, and Enterprise Florida are holding a one-day conference on Tuesday, September 29, 2009, on solar energy.
DOT Awards research Contract to Solar Roadways
Solar Roadways announced that it has been awarded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) contract that will enable them to prototype the first ever Solar Road Panel.
Commission Approves PECO SREC Purchase Plan
Pennsylvania Utility, PECO received approval today from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) to purchase up to 80,000 solar alternative energy credits.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Chinese Solar Firm Revises Price Statement
The chief executive of the biggest Chinese solar panel maker on Wednesday reversed a statement that his company was selling below marginal cost in the United States.
Is Buying European a Good Idea?
There seems to be a growing call for regulations to protect European solar companies from mostly producers from China. China and the U.S., meanwhile, also aim to protect their domestic companies.
Land of the Rising Subsidy
Japanese makers of solar panels are well placed to endure the present glut.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Spire Solar Offers Input for Department of Energy Tax Credit & Loan Applications
Spire Solar, unique as a US supplier of turnkey PV manufacturing lines, offers to help new, expanding, and foreign companies set up manufacturing in America.
Carbon Cap-And-Trade: A Government M&A Stimulus Plan
The chances of carbon cap-and-trade legislation may not be appreciably stronger, the bill still is sparking some M&A chatter.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
China Sunergy Reports Better-Than-Expected Results
Solar cell products maker China Sunergy reported better-than-expected quarterly results, helped by a rise in shipments, and said it expects shipment growth to remain strong in the third quarter, sending its shares up 9 percent.
Solar Stocks Mixed on Earnings News
Solar stocks were mixed on Thursday as two solar companies reported quarterly results and analysts raised concerns about near-term challenges for solar companies.
TECHNOLOGY
Spectrolab Sets New Cell Efficiency Record of 41.6%
Spectrolab Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company has set a new world record for terrestrial concentrator solar cell efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Oerlikon Thin Film Solar Fab in China Ramps Up
As China boosts solar energy to meet growing power demand and reduce dependence on imported fuels, Tianwei and Oerlikon Solar announced the completion of one of the mainland China’s largest thin film solar panel factories.
Siemens Buys 40% Stake in Solar Company Arava Power
German industrial giant Siemens signed a $15m. investment agreement with Israeli solar power company Arava Power on Thursday at Kibbutz Ketura.
Baoding Tianwei Starts Mass Production of Thin Film Solar Panels
Tianwei and Oerlikon Solar have completed of one of the mainland China’s largest thin film solar panel factories. The facility was completed ahead of schedule.
China Puts Ban on Import of Scrap Polyscilicon
A Chinese ban on imports of a waste material used for solar wafers may be bad news for foreign competitors but it is a big boost to China’s solar sector.
Kyocera Sakura Solar Energy Center Marks 25 Years
Kyocera established the Sakura Solar Energy Center just outside of Tokyo for the research & development, and promotion of solar power generating systems. This month the Center marks its 25th anniversary.
Renewables Target Will Take 100 Years
Australia chairman John Dashwood has expressed scepticism at federal laws requiring 20 per cent of electricity be sourced from renewable sources by 2020, saying such a transformation was likely to take 100 years.
Solar Cities Update
The Solar Cities program continues to move forward, with construction beginning at the two Central Victoria Solar City solar parks, located in Bendigo and Ballarat.
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