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
Daly City School District Fancies Sun-Powered Schools
A “farm” of solar panels could be used to conserve energy at elementary schools in Daly City, with district officials looking to federal stimulus dollars to pick up the tab.
Plotting the Path of Renewable Power Lines
A new state report tries to tackle one of the touchiest issues in California’s effort to expand renewable power, suggesting possible routes for new transmission lines to carry electricity from wind farms and solar plants.
SolarCity Owes S.F. Vocational Training Program
After pocketing millions from Mayor Gavin Newsom’s GoSolarSF program, California’s largest installer company reneged on its pledge to create a training academy in the low-income Bayview district.
NATIONAL NEWS
Additional Speakers Confirmed for Solar Conference NYC Sept 10
Experts from industry and government added to the line up.
NV Energy Signs PPA Agreement for 26 Megawatt PV System
NV Energy and Renewable Ventures, a Fotowatio company, have entered into a long-term power purchase agreement for the sale of energy produced from a 26-megawatt DC solar photovoltaic power plant that will be constructed near Apex, Nevada.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
As Prices Slump, Solar Industry Suffers
A run of poor earnings has dampened confidence in once-booming solar companies.
Half of All Solar Panels Made this Year Won’t Be Installed in 2009
Total solar panel production in 2009 will grow by 14.3 percent to 7.5 Gigawatts (GW), up from 6.5GW in 2008. However, only 3.9 GW worth of installations will take place this year.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Treasury & DOE to Release US $2B for Renewable Manufacturers
Authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), this new program will provide tax credits to manufacturers who produce renewable energy equipment.
Solar Manufacturing Tax Credit Guidelines Mean Jobs Now
America’s factories can be world leaders in creating components for solar equipment.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Ersol Solar First Half 2009 Revenues Drop 44%
ersol Solar increased its consolidated revenue to € 72.9 million in the second quarter of 2009. Compared with the same period of the previous year (€ 129.9 million), consolidated revenue was thus down by 43.9 percent.
Sunways First Half 2009 Revenues Rise 16%
Compared to the prior year quarter, consolidated sales rose by 38.4% to € 89.8 million, driven by a strong growth of domestic business (Q2/2008: € 64.9 million).
LDK Shares Fall on 2Q Loss,Analyst Rates “Sell”
Shares of solar cell wafer maker LDK Solar Co. Ltd. tumbled on Thursday, the morning after the company posted a second-quarter loss as it wrote down the plummeting value of its inventory.
TECHNOLOGY
SMA America Provides Custom Solution for Residential Retrofits
Specially Configured Sunny Boy 4000US can now be Installed on Homes with 100 Amp Service.
ECD & Mercury Solar System Reach Supply Deal for PV Laminates
Under the terms of the agreement, ECD will sell UNI-SOLAR laminates to Mercury, and will provide technical training and aid in the design of future solar PV systems installed by Mercury’s team.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
ET Solar Supplies Modules for 1MW Indian Plant
The project is so far one of the largest on-grid solar farms in the Indian subcontinent. Initial shipments were completed in July and more modules are set to be shipped in the near future.
SolarWorld AG Confirms First Half Shipments Up 26%
In the group interim report for the first half of 2009 just submitted, SolarWorld AG confirms the figures previously reported. The company was able to increase its sales volume to 239 MW in the first half of 2009 – a plus of 26% in comparison with the previous year.
Bakhu Holdings Signs MOU to Acquire Shenzhen Xinhonglian Solar Energy
Bakhu Holdings Corp. thursday said it signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire all the assets and shares of Chinese solar maker Shenzhen Xinhonglian Solar Energy Co., Ltd or SXSE, as part of its plans to enter green energy business.
Dow Corning Opens Solar-Powered Day Care Center
Dow Corning has announced the opening of an anganwadi (daycare center) in the Indian village of Karde that features a 28-panel solar power system.
Rudd’s Clever Accounting Threatens Clean Energy Industry
The federal government’s emission trading scheme threatens hundreds of millions of dollars worth of investment into climate-friendly electricity generation, say sustainable living and environment groups.
Sunstroom Announces Plans for 50MW PV Project in Spain
The 50 MW solar electricity facility is scheduled to be build in Spain’s Extremadura province and will cost an estimated €300 million.
