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
SolarCity Announces New Residential Solar Service in Oregon, Plans to Expand Local Operations
SolarCity’s PurePower™ can enable Oregon homeowners to power their homes with solar electricity and pay the same rate they were previously charged for electricity from the utility company.
New Solar Panels Add More ‘Power’ to One Sunnyvale ‘s School Curriculum
According to Eshone Energy, the company responsible for the project, the 108 solar panels are expected to eliminate 25,000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually with an energy output of about 23,000 kilowatts in an hour.
SF to Get $10M from Feds for Solar Projects
The City was one of 16 municipalities nationwide to receive American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for solar projects, according to the U.S. Department of Energy
NATIONAL NEWS
States Not Meeting Renewable Energy Goals
Across the USA, states are falling short of their goals to increase the use of renewable energy as Congress weighs a national renewable-energy standard.
SolarCraft Brings Solar to Windsor Fire Station
Novato-based SolarCraft announced the completion of a solar electric generating system at the newly constructed Fire Station No. 2 in Windsor, CA.
Solarion Plans for 10MW Plus Commercial Line in 2010
The company has been producing CIGS thin films with plastic substrate at its 200-kilowatt pilot line, and is now set for commercial product launch next year.
Virginia Offering Solar PV Rebate Program
Under Virginia’s first-ever renewable energy rebate program, homeowners and businesses in the Commonwealth can receive a rebate of US $2,000 per kilowatt (kW) for solar photovoltaic systems up to 10 kilowatts (kW) in size.
PECO to Issue 6 Megawatt Solar RFP
PECO recently received approval from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) to purchase up to 80,000 solar alternative energy credits, the equivalent of 6-megawatts, during 10 years.
NRG to Develop Planed Houston Solar Farm
The city announced the selection of a bid by NRG, based in Princeton, N.J., pending formal council approval in a process expected to start next week.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
IREC Releasese to 6th Edition of its Connecting to the Grid Guide
This guide provides a comprehensive introduction to a span of topics that relate to grid-tied renewable energy sources.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
National Poll Shows More than Nine Out of 10 American Want Solar Now
92% of Americans think it is important for the nation to develop and use solar energy. This was consistent across all political party affiliations. And 77% of Americans feel the Federal government should make solar power development a national priority, including the financial support needed.
Trends in Worldwide Solar Cell Manufacturing
The solar industry has undergone tremendous growth over the last several years: 50%, 41%, 36% and 99% in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
DOE Announces US $87 to Support Solar Technology Development
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced up to US $87 million will be made available to support the development of new solar energy technologies.
Rep. Giffords’ Solar Roadmap Bill Passes Science and technology Committee
U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords’ (D-AZ) has introduced the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, which is now on its way to the full House after earning strong bipartisan support in the Science and Technology Committee.
TECHNOLOGY
Pushing c-Si Efficiency to 20% With Narrower Interconnect
An average efficiency of 19.1% for p-type crystalline silicon (c-Si) is achieved in SunTech’s new Pluto cells.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Web Site Tracks Europe’s Clean Energy Growth
The European Commission this week introduced an open-access online tool to monitor the development of about a dozen low-carbon technologies in the trade bloc.
Iberdola Creeps into Solar Development
The renewable energy venture arm of Iberdrola, the big Spanish utility, has as made a small investment in a Toronto-based photovoltaic solar company — a sign that the company is stepping up its role in developing, and not just deploying, renewable-energy technologies beyond wind power.
Systaic AG Buys Business Operations of Solarwatt
Düsseldorf-based Systaic AG, which specialises in integrated solar solutions, is purchasing the business operations of Solarwatt Cells GmbH, Heilbronn. The company has a production capacity of 25 megawatts and employs a workforce of 54.
eSolar Expands Into South Africa
Pasadena-based eSolar, a developer of solar thermal power technology being used for power plants, said this morning that the firm has inked a deal with a South African firm to expand sales through Sub-Saharan Africa.
