Rise & Shine: August 27, 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
PG&E Wants to Store Wind, Solar Energy
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. wants to take energy from wind farms and solar power plants and store it underground.
SolarCraft Open House
SolarCraft of Novato, an industry leader in solar electric and solar thermal energy system installations, invites you to an open house at their new office in Sonoma. 414 West Napa Street, Sonoma Thursday, September 3rd 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Former Landfill Changing into Photovoltaic PV Farm
Riverside, California is planning to convert a former landfill into a photovoltaic (PV) farm that produces solar energy.
Clear Skies, Cavallo Energy Developing Solar Project in Mojave Desert
Clear Skies Solar Inc. (CSS), a provider of turnkey solar electricity installations and renewable energy solutions, plans to develop a solar PV facility on its 34-acre property in the Cantil section of California’s Mojave desert.
NATIONAL NEWS
More Sun for Less: Solar Panels Find Prices Have Dropped
A Phoenix homeowner, Danita Hardy, had been put off by the prospect of spending $20,000 for solar— until she learned about a company called SunRun that takes on the upfront expense and recovers its costs gradually.
Report Says States need to Push Solar
A report prepared by two nonprofit organizations on how to expand the growth of government-backed solar energy programs around the country says individual states need to start thinking like retailers when it comes to marketing.
Power Lines Tying Up Progress?
By law, old power lines can be considered historic artifacts. That’s the latest hiccup solar energy developers are swallowing.
Connecticut Businesses Invest in 1.2MW of Solar Energy
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) has recently supported seven solar photovoltaic installations, bringing on line a total of 1.2 megawatts of clean energy generating capacity, enough to power approximately 150 average Connecticut homes over a year.
SolarWorld Expands it Activities Rapidly Across USA
The SolarWorld group has been expanding its business with new military, school and other public projects in the United States, the important market of the future.
Atlas Establishes Solar Test Center in Phoenix, AZ
Atlas Material Testing Technology now offers a complete portfolio of testing services to evaluate the performance, durability and reliability of solar cells and modules.
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, while a leading solar company in Germany has begun calling for a “Buy European” rule.
Research and Markets: The Future of the US Solar PV Equipments Market
The Market is Estimated to Generate $347.90 Million by 2013.
Interesting View: Grid Parity by 2010 and Oversupply Until 2012
Tumbling polysilicon prices next year, coupled with an oversupply of other solar materials, could bring prices roughly inline with conventional energy sources, such as coal and natural gas.
Even Solar PV Firms Like Suntech Passing Through Tough Times in 2009
The company plans to freeze capacity expansion during 2009 until the credit market improves. The majority of its capital expenditures will be spent retrofitting existing facilities.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Utilities Don’t want You to have a Solar Panel on your Roof
Utilities are very set in their ways. The only way to distribute electricity, as far as they’re concerned, is from one centralized location out to the masses.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Hinchey Announces New $3.6M Dollar Federal Investment
In an effort to further establish New York as a hub for solar energy research and development, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced that he’s secured $3.6 million in federal funding for Prism Solar Technologies.
A-Power Energy Generation Systems Reports Unaudited Financial for Second Quarter of 2009
A-Power Energy Generation Systems today reported its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009.
TECHNOLOGY
Unirac Announces Enhancements to CLICKSYS Residential Line
Now Available; Dark Anodized Finish, Enphase Energy Microinverter Mounting Kits and Wire Management Clips.
Madico Awarded Patent for PV Bright White Backsheet Technology
The patent covers the use of laminate backsheets for photovoltaic (PV) modules that incorporate, among other features, cost-effective thermoplastic EVA along with white pigment and/or fluorescent agents.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Centrosolar America Signs 10MW Distribution Agreement
BSE is one of the largest independent electrical distributors in the United States, which sells its products and services predominately to the construction, industrial, and utility industries.
Joint Venture of Runano and Renova Place 120MW End-to-End Line Order with Oerlikon Solar
The order for a factory in the Chuvash Republic is the world’s largest production equipment order to date in 2009 and opens up the Russian market for this leading thin film solar PV technology supplier.
Taiwan Solar Cell Makers See capacity Utilizations Rates Rising from June
Taiwan’s leading solar cell makers Motech Industries, E-Ton Solar Tech, Gintech Energy, Solartech Energy and Neo Solar Power have seen utilization rates significantly increasing from June, according to industry sources in Taiwan.
China May Guarantee government Purchases of Renewable Energy
Lawmakers in China have proposed a draft amendment to the country’s renewable energy laws that would create state guarantees for the purchase of renewable energy.
Canadian Solar Next in Line to Announce large Solar Power Plant in China
Chinese solar-cell maker Canadian Solar Inc (CSIQ.O) said on Wednesday it obtained development rights for a 500 megawatt (MW) solar power plant system in China.
Off-the-Grid Cell Phone Networks, Seek the Sun, Wind
In developing countries where there is little or no grid access, cell phone companies are starting to find that in certain situations, solar and wind powered base stations can save them money compared to off-grid diesel-powered base stations.
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