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
North America’s Largest Municipal Utility
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced on Nov 24 that the city’s municipal utility would launch a large solar programs. Among provisions of the plan is a feed-in tariff for 150 MW of solar photovoltaics by 2016.
Proposes Solar Feed-In Tariff
Southern California Edison on Monday unveiled its newest power plant: 33,700 solar panels atop a warehouse in Fontana that will feed green energy directly into the grid.
groSolar Shines Light on Fruit Packing Co
Mariani Packing Company now has a 1.1 MW solar system operational at its Vacaville, CA headquarters. The solar power project is the result of a partnership between Mariani, groSolar, and SunEdison.
Fremont to Get a Little Greener
Next year, the council is scheduled to consider building code requirements for Fremont’s updated general plan, which will guide city development for the next two decades. That opens the door for new green building mandates, such as requiring that all new development at least be wired for solar power.
Nevada City Targets a Reduced Carbon Footprint
The city is already starting to do its part by installing solar panels on City Hall and other environmentally friendly ideas, said Nevada City Engineer Bill Falconi.
Solar Thermal Projects Gather Steam
Scores of grand-scale facilities are proposed for California. Their possible effect worries environmentalists and others.
NATIONAL NEWS
Air Products Signs Contract with China’s Best Solar
Air Products has signed a turnkey gas supply contract to provide on-site gases, liquid bulk gases, specialty gases and gas equipment to China’s Best Solar Hi Tech Co., Ltd, which is building a new thin-film photovoltaic (PV) facility in China.
World’s Largest CIGS Thin Film Solar Array Goes Live
Global Solar Energy today announced the full operation of the largest solar electric array worldwide using CIGS PV technology 750 kW. The system is financed, owned and operated by MMA Renewable Ventures.
Lockheed Martin to Construct Solar Test Center
Lockheed Martin Corp. will begin construction of a solar test center, which will be located at its Moorestown, New Jersey facility.
First Solar Creates Tough Act to Follow
Solar startups will have trouble replicating the thin-film solar panel market leader’s performance in today’s poor economy, industry watchers at a Photon International conference warn.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
TVA Seeks 2GW of Renewable Power
If you’ve got solar or wind farms, head to Tennessee. The TVA wants to rapidly buy up capacity for renewable power.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Solar a Bust in Spain
Installers of solar energy systems are trying to unload megawatts worth of panels cheaply after buying too many at high prices earlier this year.
Solarfun Reports Third Quarter 2008 Results
Net revenue was RMB 1,275 million (US$187.8 million), an increase of 69.1% from the third quarter of 2007, but down 5.7% from the second quarter of 2008.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
The US needs a Renewable Projects Administration
We could solarize 10 million homes at an average cost of $20,000, and save each homeowner $2,000 a year in electricity costs.
TECHNOLOGY
Lifespan Of Organic Solar Cells Could Increase
Konarka Technologies announced that Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research is providing nearly $2.5 million over the next 3 years to increase the lifespan of organic solar cells.
SolarEdge Unstealths and Funds Up
Innovative firms like SolarEdge are challenging the way PV systems are installed and wired together as well as influencing the way modules are manufactured.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Suntech Announces Accident at Production Facilities
On November 28, 2008, seven Suntech employees were injured as a result of an accident that occurred due to the malfunction of a piece of module lamination equipment at Suntech Power’s PV module facilities in Wuxi, China.
Centrosolar Opens New Module Facility
After just ten months in construction, Centrosolar Group AG has officially opened one of the largest German solar module factories in Wismar. From 2010 on, the new site called “Sonnenstromfabrik” will produce 150 MWp of solar modules per year.
Sunfilm AG Holds Topping-Out Ceremony for Module Plant
Sunfilm AG celebrated today, almost exactly one year after Sunfilm’s first building, the “Topping-Out Ceremony” (Richtfest) for its second photovoltaic module production facility.
Moser Baer Rolls Out Thin Film, Builds Power Plant
The Indian solar company plans to build factories with more than 600 megawatts of capacity by 2010, while developing solar power plants to take advantage of the new feed-in tariff in India
Are you in California and interested in solar for your home? Call us at 877.SUN.MOJO or visit our website to learn more.
