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
California Sets Pace for Generating Solar Power
A decade ago, only 500 rooftops in California boasted solar panels that harvest the sun’s energy. Today there are nearly 50,000 solar-panel installations in the state, according to the research and lobbying group Environment California.
SolarCraft Recruits Locally to Expand Sonoma Sales Force
Solar Leader hires Sonoma Experts to accommodate growing business.
Solar Powered Roadway on the Auction Block
Imagine arrays of solar panels, wind turbines, charging stations and geothermal installations along Highway 101 and Interstate 5. Today the underlying technology will be auctioned off to each of the 50 states. Minimum bid for the California rights: $1.5 million.
NATIONAL NEWS
City-Supported Solar, Highways Pay for High Speed Rail, and Bikes on Bridges
A new Ohio law will make it easier for cities to support residents who want to produce their own green power. The law allows cities to expand the use of special improvement districts so that a homeowner can afford to make payments for solar electric or solar thermal units.
Sun Power Coming to High School but Municipal Buildings will Remain in Shade for Now
West Morris Central and Mendham high schools are in line for low interest loans to install solar panels but the township will have to wait for the next round of loans to apply for help.
German Companies Edge into US Renewable Energy Market
Germany’s renewable energy companies are establishing themselves and earning profits in the growing US energy market. But American companies shouldn’t be ruled out of the competition quite yet, some analysts say.
Chicago Advances Nation’s Largest Urban Solar Generation Station
The nation’s largest urban solar plant planned for Chicago’s South Side moved forward today, as the Chicago City Council’s Housing and Real Estate Committee recommended passage of an ordinance that would allow the city to lease 40 acres for the plant to Exelon Solar Chicago LLC.
Philly Rolls Out Solar-Powered Trash Compactors
In the largest rollout yet, Philadelphia has replaced 700 downtown trash bins with 500 of the high-tech compactors, which use solar energy to condense trash — cutting down collection trips by 75 percent.
MEMC Renegotiates Terms of Wafer Contracts
MEMC has amended its long term solar wafer supply agreement with Suntech Power similar to the amendment with Suntech executed in February 2009.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
U.S. Electric Grid Needs Major Overhaul
The U.S. electric grid is outdated and needs a major overhaul if it is to carry electricity generated by renewable energy sources, a senior official with Southern California Edison told Congress on Thursday.
Smart Grid: We Still Need to Change Utility Regulations
At a hearing before the House’s Committee on Science and Technology this morning, a group of experts from industry and standards groups provided testimony on the status and goals of the smart grid.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Difficult Market Conditions Bring Innovation and Maturity to Solar PV
The solar photovoltaic space is experiencing polysilicon prices that are at the lowest levels in close to a decade. At the same time, demand is soft because of both falling prices and a weak global economy. Meanwhile, manufacturing prices have remained relatively stable, causing what some refer to as a reactive market.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
SunPower, MEMC Offer Hope of Solar Recovery
U.S. solar companies SunPower and MEMC on Thursday offered hope that the beleaguered solar industry is on the mend, each posting quarterly earnings and giving revenue outlooks that topped Wall Street estimates.
SunPower Reports Second-Quarter 2009 Results
Revenue for the 2009 second quarter was $298 million which compares to revenues of $214 million in the first quarter of 2009 and $383 million in the second quarter of 2008.
MEMC Reports Second Quarter Results
The company reported second quarter 2009 net sales of $282.9 million, which represents an increase of 32.2% from first quarter 2009 net sales of $214.0 million, and a decrease of 46.8% from second quarter 2008 net sales of $531.4 million.
LDK Solar Updates Outlook for the Second Quarter of 2009
For the second quarter of 2009, LDK Solar expects to report between $225 million and $235 million in revenue, slightly above the recently announced estimated range, and wafer shipments between 230 and 240 megawatts.
TECHNOLOGY
Traditional & Micro Inverter Markets Look Good for Growth
A new report from IMS Research says that the global solar inverter market more than doubled to reach US $2.4 billion in 2008.
It’s a Knockout
Shining sunlight onto silicon is the most direct way of turning it into electricity, but it is also the most expensive. Two small companies based in Jerusalem are trying to make this process cheaper.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Pramac Starts Module Production with 30MW Oerlikon Micromorph Line
The Pramac Group and Oerlikon Solar announced that production at Switzerland’s largest solar photovoltaic module manufacturing facility has started, just seven months after the build out of the facility began.
Sunways Goes on Short-Time Work
Overall, first key data indicate a positive view of the business development in the second quarter. Sunways AG will present its interim report for the first half-year 2009 on 14 August.
Trina Solar Signs Sales Agreement with PROINSO
Trina Solar it has commenced shipment under a long-term supplier agreement with PROINSO (”Proyectos Integrales Solares S.L.”), a distributor for solar photovoltaic equipment and a specialist in engineering services in Spain.
GreenWing Energy Signs CPV Agreement with SolFocus
The agreement marks an important expansion of GreenWing’s business into the rapidly growing solar energy sector.
Construction of Ballarat Solar Park Begins
The park, a showcase feature of the $42 million Central Victoria Solar City project, will generate enough power to meet the needs of 150 households.
