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
Cal Lawmakers Propose Smaller Increase for Net Metering
A state Senate committee voted to set the cap at 3.5 percent instead of the 5 percent in an earlier version of the bill, which sets out to expand a program that has largely benefited solar energy system owners.
Editorial: Legislature Should Reject Utilities’ Demands, Pass Clean-Energy Law
After a disastrous session, the California Legislature has a chance to show that it’s still capable of strong leadership — at least on climate change.
Paramount Equity Launches New Solar Energy Division
Partnership with SolarCity allows budget-conscious homeowners to bundle the purchase price of a solar system into a home mortgage refinance at a reduced fee and interest rate.
NATIONAL NEWS
Solar Plant Planned Near Elephant Butte
California and New Mexico companies are planning to build a $130 million, 22-megawatt photovoltaic solar plant near Elephant Butte.
Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority Issues RFP
The Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority is issuing a Request for Proposals on behalf of Howard County, for the development of solar energy on a closed landfill in Ellicott City, Maryland.
Tucson Electric Power Seek Stimulus Money for 1.6MW PV System
Tucson Electric Power (TEP) and a team of energy industry leaders are seeking federal stimulus funding for an innovative demonstration project intended to boost the effectiveness of Tucson’s solar energy resources.
Farm Moves Toward Energy Independence: One Planet Solar & Wind Installs Fourth-Largest Residential Solar Photovoltaic System in Indiana
The 66- by 28-foot roof supports 60 photovoltaic solar panels, each producing 224-watts of electricity.
Fronius Offers Increased Service Reimbursements
Fronius USA, LLC Solar Electronics Division is pleased to announce an increase in service reimbursements to $250.00 per qualifying RMA effective September 1, 2009.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Assessing the Solar Leaders in the US Utility Industry
Examining growth in US solar installations reveals important trends in market development. However, data on total installed capacity per customer can unveil far more interesting revelations.
Even in Solar, There is No Infinite Demand
The term grid parity was knocked around often during the high growth years of 2004-2008, along with the promise that solar’s grid parity would bring with it the ability to sell everything you manufactured. New entrants envisioned a world with no barriers and just one small hurdle, getting to grid parity in a timely manner.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
U.S. Doles Out Grants for Energy Projects
The U.S. government handed out $502 million in grants for a dozen wind- and solar-power projects from Maine to South Texas, the first round in a new subsidy program designed to spur renewable-energy investment.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
SunModular Raising $2.5M to Help Solar Keep Cool
Founded in 2007, SunModular is developing a passive-thermal technology that it claims can improve the efficiency of all silicon-based panels — and increase their reliability — by lowering their temperatures.
Khosla Ventures Raises $1.1B to Invest in Green Technology
It is the biggest first-time fund in a decade and comes as venture capital investment in green technology is just beginning to recover from a precipitous fall prompted by the global economic collapse last fall.
First Solar Might Face Tough Time as Polysilicon Prices Fall
First Solar (FSLR) is overvalued and faces a serious problem in the form of cheap polysilicon. Sound familiar? It should, it’s been the refrain from analysts since May.
Norweigian REC Completes Bond Issue at NOK 1.25bn
Norwegian solar group Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (OSL: REC), or REC, said it closed its NOK1bn five-year fixed rate bond loan after the books reached NOK1.25bn.
TECHNOLOGY
Xunlight 26 Solar Aims for CdTe on Plastic
The one-year-old Ohio startup is developing a flexible cadmium-telluride thin film that isn’t like First Solar’s, and plans to go into pilot production next year.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
U.N. Reports on Developing Nations’ Energy Needs
It will cost between $500 billion and $600 billion every year for the next 10 years to allow developing nations to grow using renewable energy resources, instead of relying on dirty fuels that worsen global warming, according to a United Nations report released Tuesday.
Iberdola Wins Big on Clean Energy Grants
Iberdrola, the Spanish energy giant, emerged on Tuesday as the early winner in the government’s plan to aid the nation’s clean-energy sector as part of the stimulus package passed in February.
BHEL, BEL to Float Joint Ventures for Solar Panels Facility
BHEL and BEL will form a Rs.20 billion joint venture by March 2010 to manufacture 250mw solar photovoltaic production facility for processing silicon wafers, solar cells and PV modules, a top company official said Tuesday.
Tianwei and Oerlikon Solar Announce Completion of 46MW Panel Plant
This first phase of the Tianwei project produces 500,000 modules per year, which generates a total of 46 megawatts of power.
Jinko Solar’s New Factor Starts Production, Company’s Capacity Doubles in a Year
The production capacity of the Company as of 2008 was approximately 185MW. It is estimated that, by the end of 2009, the production capacity will reach approximately 400MW.
PlanetSolar Chooses SunPower’s High Efficiency Solar Cells to Power the World’s Largest Catamaran
The solar boat, currently under construction, is expected to be the largest of its kind and will be powered exclusively by SunPower’s high-efficiency solar cells.
