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 Solar Company to Get Federal Backing
A California company, Solyndra Inc., that makes solar panels will receive a $535 million federal loan guarantee, allowing it to complete the first phase of a new manufacturing plant in Fremont.
SunPower Loses Market Share in California to Asian Companies
SunPower Corp., the largest supplier of solar power panels in California, is losing market share to China’s Suntech Power Holdings Co. and Japan’s Sharp Corp. as developers seek cheaper modules, says Pacific Crest Securities.
Premier Power: Barsotti Juice Company Squeezes Solar Power Out
For more than 30 years Barsotti has managed 67 acres in Northern California’s famous “Apple Hill” region, located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Charge Into Renewables
The establishment of “targets” or “goals” is not likely to get the job done. It would give utilities the ability to come up with excuses for why they must remain dependent on fossil fuels in the generation of electricity.
Renewable Power Fight at Crossroads
A fierce and complicated fight has broken out in Sacramento over a simple idea with broad support – increasing California’s use of renewable power.
Chu and Biden to Make “Major Announcement” at Solyndra Friday
In addition to receiving the very first loan guarantee the Fremont, CA based solar firm will host Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Vice President Joe Biden (via satellite) on Friday morning for “a major funding announcement regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.”
NATIONAL NEWS
First Solar Names Robert Gillette CEO
First Solar, nation’s largest solar panel maker, on Thursday named Robert Gillette CEO, succeeding Mike Ahearn. For the past four-and-a-half years, Gillette served as CEO of Honeywell Aerospace, a unit of Honeywell International Inc.
Renewable Energy, Meet the New Nimbys
Solar and Wind-Power Proposals Draw Opposition From Residents Fearing Visual Blight; a Dilemma for Some Environmentalists
Solar Energy Announces LOI for $17M in Commercial Projects
Solar Energy Initiatives announced letters of intent with several municipalities in the United States to install and operate approximately 4 MW) of photovoltaic (PV) systems on government buildings. The Company anticipates that the projects will be completed by the second quarter of fiscal 2010.
Komax Solar Opens New Manufacturing Facility in PA
Komax Solar, a supplier of PV module manufacturing machinery, has opened a new manufacturing facility in York County, Pa.
Honeywell Helps Fort Dix Meet Renewable Goals with Solar Power
Honeywell announced it has installed two solar arrays at Fort Dix, N.J., a training and mobilization center for the U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard.
SkySentry Receives Flexible CIGS Array from Ascent Solar
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. announced that SkySentry received their first flexible CIGS PV array for an upcoming aerostat test in Sandusky, Ohio, scheduled for mid-September, 2009. The aerostat is part of Army Space and Missile Defense Command’s High Altitude, Long-Endurance Testbed.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
An Investors View on the Current Market Situation
Industry survivors will be those that vertically integrate, or in many Western firms’ cases, accelerate outsourcing and concentrate on branding and client relationships – but even that will require a decent balance sheet.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
FirstEnergy Seeking Additional RECs in Ohio
FirstEnergy Corp. says a second request for proposals (RFP) will be conducted to secure renewable energy certificates (RECs) for customers of its Ohio utilities: Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. and Toledo Edison.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Stealthy Khosla-Backed Solar Startup SkyWatch Energy Raising $3.2M
Stealthy solar startup SkyWatch Energy is in the process of raising $3.2 million in its first round of equity financing, according to an SEC filing in June. Khosla Ventures this week divulged it invested in the companys.
TECHNOLOGY
SMA Solar Enters Microinverter Bix Through Acquisition
The Germany company, which makes centralized inverters, is betting on a technology that’s finding a greater acceptance in the solar energy market.
BioSolar Strengthens Analytical Laboratory Capabilities
BioSolar is expanding its analytical laboratory capabilities with the addition of testing equipment from machinery and equipment maker, Mocon, Inc. for measuring water vapor transmission rate, a critical property of BioSolar’s innovative bio-based backsheets.
New Solar Micro-Inverter Company Launched
Island Technology has launched a wholly-owned subsidiarycalled Direct Grid Technologies LLC. The new company will manufacture solar micro-inverters for residential and commercial photovoltaic (PV) applications.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Solar Power, Mobile Phones Coverage to Distribute Water in Kenya
On the heels of complaints about corrupt distributors and conflicts over the fair allocation of water, a community in Musingini, Kenya, is working to implement a solar-powered, pay-for-use water vending system using the M-PESA backbone.
Moser Baer Develops 1MW Project in Chandrapur
It has been has been awarded an EPC contract to this effect by Mahagenco, a Government of Maharashtra power generation company.
Terni Energia to Complete Nine PV Installations within September
TerniEnergia will complete the construction of nine 10 MWp industrial photovoltaic installations within September. Seven new construction sites are located in Puglia, one in Marche and one in Umbria.
Trina Solar Launches “Center for Excellence” for Quality Ensure
Trina Solar Limited announced that it has launched the “Trina Solar Center For Excellence” to ensure a high level of quality assurance and precision testing of its PV modules.
Canadian Solar Allies with Suqian to Build 200MW PV Power Station
Suqian City have announced that they have formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement to build a 200MW photovoltaic power station in Suqian.
The First PV Solar Module Passed Trail Producing in Jinko
The first PV solar Module of 180 W passed the trail production at Jinko Solar manufacture base of Jinko Solar Co., Ltd., a Shangrao-based integrated manufacturer of photovoltaic products.
Australia’s Largest Solar Power System Opened
The 1 megawatt solar power system was installed over six separate buildings and is expected to power around 40% of the Showground’s power needs.
Sinosol Builds 7.4MW Solar PV Project
The project is being funded by an institutional investor from India. On a surface of approximately 17 hecatares more than 35,000 polycrystalline PV-modules will be installed.
