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
Applied Solar Announces Restructuring
Applied Solar, Inc., formerly Open Energy Corporation has begun the process of restructuring its operations.
Santa Clara County Tops in Solar Systems
Number of photovoltaic systems nearly double other counties
NATIONAL NEWS
Sun for Rent
State hopes affordable leases will make panels an electricity option for more homeowners.
APS Signs 290MW CSP Power Purchase Agreement
Starwood Energy Group and Arizona Public Service Co. have signed a Power Purchase Agreement, a precondition to Lockheed Martin’s involvement to design and build the 290-megawatt Concentrated Solar Power plant that will bring more utility-scale renewable energy to Arizona.
Kansas Governor Signs Renewable Energy Legislation
It also has provisions to encourage conservation and consumers’ use of small wind or solar generators for their household power needs.
Jackson Gets $750,000 to Install Solar Panels
Jackson has been awarded $750,000 in federal stimulus funds for erection of solar panels to help meet the electrical needs at its water and sewage treatment plants.
Solar Panel Dedication
Members at First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee are having a dedication for their solar panels.
Solar Planned to Power City Buildings
Carson City plans to help power city government buildings with solar energy for the first time under a plan by the public works department.
Underwriters laboratories Continues to Invest in its Capacity to Support the Global Growth of the Solar Industry
UL looks to new countries and expanded laboratories.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
First Solar Shares May be Poised for Fall: Barron’s
Shares of First Solar could take a hit if its customers turn away from the maker of solar panels in favor of lower-priced rivals, according to a report in Barron’s.
Suntech Announces Follow-on Public Offering
Suntech Power intends to offer, subject to market and other conditions, 20,000,000 American Depositary Shares, each representing one ordinary share of the Company at a price of $12.50 per ADS.
Yingli Reports First Quarter 2009 Results
Yingli Green Energy has reported total net revenues were RMB 999.9 million (US$146.3 million) in the first quarter of 2009, a decrease of 43.2% from the fourth quarter of 2008.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Innovation and Sea of Change in the Residential Solar Market
As solar becomes mainstream, solar companies will need to put more focus on the consumer as opposed to the technology.
Solar Power Could Surge by 2050 in Deserts – Report
Solar power plants in deserts using mirrors to concentrate the sun’s rays have the potential to generate up to a quarter of the world’s electricity by 2050, a report by pro-solar groups said on Monday.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Where the ARRA Fails
The stimulus is great, but it’s not perfect. It shortchanges efficiency to some degree. Where do you think it falls short?
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Semafo & Burkina Fasto to Study 20MW Solar System
The first phase of this endeavor will be carried out as part of Semafo’s ongoing corporate responsibility program in close collaboration with the government of Burkina Faso.
Private Equity Company, Harbert Australia Invests in Solar Shop Australia
Harbert Australia Private Equity announces its first portfolio company investment from its Harbert Australian Private Equity Fund I, with an 18.1% initial equity interest in Solar Shop Australia Pty Ltd, an installer of grid connect solar systems in Australia.
Showa Shell to Spend 160B Yen on Solar Output
Showa Shell will spend as much as 160 billion yen ($1.7 billion) over five years to increase solar output to 1 gigawatt a year from 80 megawatts now.
REC Cuts Wafer Production by 35%
REC Wafer has decided to temporarily take out approximately 35 percent of its production capacity due to a challenging market situation and low demand visibility.
MECASOLAR and PROINSO Awarded Orders for 14 MW of Systems
MECASOLAR and PROINSO were recently awarded several orders for the supply of various solar photovoltaic plants in Italy, Greece and Spain which together reach 14 MW of power and have been made by different developers and construction companies in the three countries.
Timminco and Q-Cells Replace Solar Grade Silicon Contract
It will replace the agreement signed in 2008 for the five-year period through 2013. The new agreement contemplates deliveries of 100 mt of solar grade silicon for the remainder of 2009.
Linde to Supply One of Italy’s First Thin-Film Solar Cell Plants
Linde Gases, a division of The Linde Group, has been awarded the exclusive contract to supply high purity gases to one of Italy’s first thin-film solar module manufacturing plants.
