August 6, 2010
This week kicked off with some big news in the solar industry from Stanford University. A research group at the University announced that it had discovered a way to more than double the current efficiency of solar power production. The technology is called photon enhanced thermionic emissions, or PETE. PETE would be able to convert both light and heat into electricity at high temperatures (light is usually converted at relatively low temperatures, and heat at very high temperatures). This technology is expected to be most effective when used with solar concentrators, such as parabolic mirrors on solar farms.
On a more colorful note, ten winners from Crayola’s “How I Dream in Green” coloring contest last spring were selected to comprise the crayon company’s “Green Team.” The contestants had been asked to draw and color their vision for making homes, schools, and neighborhoods greener. The Green Team was honored this week at the dedication of Crayola’s new 15-acre solar system made of 25,000 panels. Crayola’s new solar system is predicted to provide enough power to make a third of their 3 billion crayons produced annually.
Across the globe, Thailand’s going solar – in a big way. The largest solar farm in Southeast Asia is planned to be built right outside of Bangkok by the end of 2011. This 44 MW solar farm is part of the country’s efforts to receive 20% of its energy from renewable resources by 2022. While Suntech Power will install the panels, the solar farm will be owned and maintained by Solartron and Bangchak Petroleum, a Thai oil company. According to journalist Candace Lombardi of CNET, this Thai solar deal reveals several important trends in the industry:
“The deal affirms a recent United Nations report that sees Asia leading the way in green investment. The deal also speaks to the trend of solar companies offering turnkey solar solutions. The project also illustrates how oil companies are seeking to branch out into renewable energy resources.”
Salt River Project is making it easier for Arizona public schools to go solar — without actually paying for the panels. They just launched a pilot program – SRP Community Solar – that allows public schools in their territory to purchase solar power from a solar photovoltaic power plant that will be built in 2011. Schools districts will be able to purchase solar electricity at a fixed price of 9.9 cents per kWh for 10 years and each school’s share will be individually metered. The best thing about this program? According to PennEnergy, “Schools can invest in solar energy without the upfront costs of purchasing and installing solar panels and will not incur any maintenance or repair costs that may be associated with a rooftop system. In addition, the KWh cost for the energy produced by the solar system is locked in for ten years.” As providers of solar leases and power purchase agreements, we here at SunRun wholeheartedly agree.
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