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
A Reverse Auction Market Proposed to Spur California Renewables
In what might be a world first, the California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday proposed letting developers bid on contracts to install green energy projects.
California Renewable Energy Goals: The Devil is in the Implementation
Environmentalists, unions and utilities seem to accept the governor’s goal of getting a third of electricity from renewable sources. They just differ on how to get there.
Seeking Cheaper solar Energy in Caltech Labs
Although the technology has come into wider use, it remains less cost-effective than other forms of energy. Scientists are looking to design a better solar panel.
City Eliminates Solar Panel Permit Fees
Scotts Valley is on the road to greener horizons — by making solar energy more accessible to locals.
SolarCity Still Pursuing Bayview Training School
Despite recent Examiner statements, SolarCity has not abandoned its plans to create a solar training program in Bayview-Hunters Point.
Green-Energy Plan is Tall Task for State
Still haunted by rolling blackouts and budget-busting energy contracts, California plans to broaden its already aggressive directive requiring utilities to deliver more power from renewable sources.
NATIONAL NEWS
Nevada National Guard Solar Project Moving Forward
The Public Works Board has authority over state construction. It voted this week to delegate that authority to the Nevada Office of the Military to oversee the $15 million project.S
Solomon Technologies Energizes First Instant Solar PV System
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.
Ascent Solar to Present at Upcoming Investor Conferences
Ascent will present to the investment community at three investor conferences during the month of September 2009.
Construction of Evergreen Solar’s 100MW Factories Underway and Set to be Complete by Spring ‘10
Evergreen Solar and Jiawei Solarchina Co. celebrated the groundbreaking for their new 100 megawatt manufacturing plants.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Analysts Expect Panel Prices to Fall Below $2/W in Near Future
Steep declines in the cost of solar panels are making the overall cost of installing photovoltaic systems on the rooftops of homes and businesses cheaper — a sunny situation for installers, but not necessarily for suppliers.
The PV Industry 2009: In Search of Stability and Sustainability
As an industry, the photovoltaic sector has witnessed its share of ups and downs but it has nonetheless recorded 30 years of growth.
China Eating Our Lunch in Solar Panel Marketplace
The idea that we can re-industrialize the country through solar panels has a hurdle that should have been foreseen: China.
Even with Oversupply Manufacturing Capacity Grows Rapidly
DisplaySearch’s latest quarterly report on photovoltaic cell capacity database and trends for stated that solar cell manufacturing capacity is expected to grow 56 percent in 2009 to 17GW.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Feed-in Tariff Have Earned a Role in US History
While significant progress has been made in government funding and support of solar power in the United States, the most effective renewable energy policy and solar incentive available — the feed-in tariff — has yet to receive major attention outside of the Europe Union.
Indianapolis Power & Light Proposes Modest Midwestern Feed-in Tariff Program
The central Indiana utility joins a growing list of Midwestern utilities with voluntary programs.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
REC ASA- Launching 5 Year Fixed Rate Bond
REC is launching a 5-year fixed rate bond loan through the Norwegian bond market in line with announcement made on May 19, 2009.
Astronergy Wins Bid for 2 MW Photovoltaic Project
Astronergy has won a 2 MW rooftop PV project located in Hangzhou Energy and Environment Industrial Park through a competitive and selective bidding process. This project is fully financed by China Energy Conservation Investment Corporation, and is Zhejiang Province’s first large-scale on-grid PV plant.
China Sunergy Renegotiates Ingot/Wafer Supply Agreement
China Sunergy, a specialized solar cell manufacturer based in Nanjing, China, has entered into the renegotiation of a supply agreement signed with REC SiTech AS.
LDK Solar Partners with Suqian City on PV 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.
China Sunergy Signs 10MW of Sales Contracts with Australian Photovoltaic Firm
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.
CPower and The SPi Group Team Up to Bring Electricity Savings to Ontario Businesses
CPower and The SPi Group Inc. will Provide Local Distribution Companies a Turn-Key Solution for Participation in Ontario’s Demand Response Program.
