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
PG&E to Buy Solar, Natural Gas Power
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. reported Thursday that it plans to buy electricity from several proposed solar facilities and natural gas power plants, one of which would replace two aging generators in Antioch.
NATIONAL NEWS
Brandeis University Announces Alteris Renewables Solar Array for Climate Action Plan
Comprehensive Climate Action Plan to feature proposed Alteris-installed 277kW solar electric system, one of the largest in MA.
Air Products Supplies Nitrogen to NexPower PV Facility
Air Products is supplying nitrogen to NexPower’s facility through its pipeline network in the CTSP.
Study Pushes for “Net Zero” Solar Homes in Texas
Building all new homes with solar power so they can generate the same amount of energy they use would dramatically clean Texas skies and save billions of dollars in utility bills, an environmental group said in a report released Thursday.
Starwood, Lockheed Cancel 290MW Solar Project
Lockheed said the project wasn’t worth it because of its high cost. The two companies were going to build the solar thermal power plant to sell electricity to Arizona Public Service.
Saving Energy May Generate Billions
According to a report from researchers at the nonprofit advocacy group Environment Northeast, all the money that government agencies, utility companies, and others are spending on efficiency programs not only saves energy, it pumps cash back into the economy – from $6 to $8.50 for every $1 spent.
Solar Energy Initiatives Inc Announces Spin-Off of Solar Park Company
It is anticipated that Solar Park Initiatives will announce the hiring of key management, with extensive business and alternative energy backgrounds, in the next 30 days. It is believed that Solar Park Initiatives will begin trading as a public company by late 2009 or early 2010.
Solar Home in Atwood Produces as Much Energy as it Consumes
The three bedroom, two bath home was built last year in Carroll County and is one of about 5,000 houses featured on the American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour.
How Homeowners Can Snag Federal Stimulus Money for Energy Improvements
Until Dec. 31, 2010, homeowners can take advantage of a national tax credit of 30 percent of the cost, up to $1,500, on a variety of energy-saving products. Insulation, windows, doors, roofing, heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems, tankless water heaters and alternative energy programs, such as solar panels, are covered.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Predicting Volatile Wind, Sun
Utilities Ramp Up Focus on Forecasting When Renewable Fuel Is at a Peak to Avoid Squandering Power That Still Can’t Be Stored.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
US Solar Industry to Challenge Tariff Rling
The U.S. solar energy industry hopes to persuade Customs officials to reverse a decision to impose a 2.5 percent tariff on solar panel imports after more than two decades of duty-free trade in the product, an industry official said on Thursday.
Sun Keeps Shining on China Solar Market
The strength of the Chinese solar-energy industry was again highlighted this week, after one of the country’s largest renewable energy firms flicked the switch on a major new solar farm.
China Solar Capacity Could Jump to 1GW or More by 2011
A new GTM Research report looks at the dynamics of China’s power industry and how they would affect the deployment of solar policies.
Companies See “Shining” Opportunities in China
Greenhouse gas emissions: the one thing that has been in the headlines for the past few weeks as more companies and states begin to find ways of lowering electricity costs and emissions at the same time
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
House OKs 2010 Spending for Energy-Water Projects
The House agreed Thursday to essentially freeze spending on energy and water projects next year after pouring tens of billions of dollars into them as part of last winter’s economic stimulus plan.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
The Paradox of Green Financing
You can talk about all the hype and cool in green tech but if you can’t finance it, you’re S-O-L.
Ascent Solar Prices Public Offering of Common Stock http://www.solarbuzz.com/News/NewsNACO1015.htm
Thin-film developer, Ascent Solar has priced its previously announced public offering.
SunRay Renewable Energy Secures €120m in Project Financing
This is Italy’s largest photovoltaic power plant to date and SunRay intends to expand the site to 100MW by the end of 2010.
TECHNOLOGY
Mitsubishi Electric Enters North America Photovoltaic Market
Offerings Include 100kW, 250kW Inverters for Large-Scale Solar Electric.
Innovalight Draws the Curtain (Just a Bit) On Its Cougar c-Si Cell Tech
Innovalight recently announced that both NREL and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems had certified that its silicon-ink processed solar cell, called the Cougar cell, has achieved an 18% conversion efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Scheuten Solar to Install PV System for Partner Logistics
The solar panels, with an overall output of 550 kWp, will be installed on the sloping roof of the Partner Logistics building at Rijkevorsel.
Spain Sees 125MW in Photovoltaic Solar Plants Built in 2009
Spain’s solar energy companies will build a total 125 megawatts in photovoltaic solar power projects in 2009, a 95% fall on the year, a Spanish government official said Thursday.
Solarifand HSBC Fund Develop 50MW in Spain and Italy
Solarig and HSBC Environmental Infrastructure Fund (“HEIF”) have sealed an alliance for the development and construction of more than 50 MW of Photovoltaic (PV) projects in Spain and Italy.
