Photovoltaic Polarizers Could Make Self-charging Smartphone Dreams Come True

PV capacity in Brazil could hit 100 GW by 2050

They work by using two polarized sheets that let only a certain amount of a device’s backlight pass through. Tiny liquid crystal molecules are sandwiched between the two polarizers, and these crystals can be switched by tiny transistors to act as light valves. Manipulating each light valve, or pixel, lets a certain amount of the backlight escape; millions of pixels are combined to create images on LCDs. The UCLA Engineering team created a new type of energy-harvesting polarizer for LCDs called a polarizing organic photovoltaic, which can potentially boost the function of an LCD by working simultaneously as a polarizer, a photovoltaic device and an ambient light or sunlight photovoltaic panel. Their research findings are currently available in the online edition of the journal Advanced Materials and will be published in a forthcoming print issue of the journal. “I believe this is a game-changer invention to improve the efficiency of LCD displays,” said Yang Yang, a professor of materials science at UCLA Engineering and principal investigator on the research. “In addition, these polarizers can also be used as regular solar cells to harvest indoor or outdoor light. So next time you are on the beach, you could charge your iPhone via sunlight.” From the point of view of energy use, current LCD polarizers are inefficient, the researchers said. A device’s backlight can consume 80 to 90 percent of the device’s power. But as much as 75 percent of the light generated is lost through the polarizers.
For even more, look at the primary reference listed here: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/photovoltaic-polarizers-could-make-self-charging-smartphone-drea/

Dyesol sees falling revenues, increased losses

Both scenarios are based on the same population and economic growth projections and national energy generation needs until 2050. “Brazil currently utilizes less than 1% of its wind energy generation potential and practically none of its solar generation potential,” Greenpeace argues. The NGO also wants the country to install 39 GW of concentrated solar power (CSP) by 2050, instead of the 3 GW expected by EPE. While the government forecast envisages total investments in the electric sector of around BRL 1.87 trillion ($797.75 billion) between 2010 and 2050, Greenpeaces more ambitious outlook would require a total investment of BRL 2.39 trillion ($1 trillion) in the same period, with 97% of these investments directed into renewable energy technologies such as PV solar, CSP, wind, biomass and oceanic energy. “Considering that the price of natural gas and fuel oil will increase over the analyzed period, construction of fewer thermal power plants and more renewable capacity under the [R]E scenario would save BRL 1.11 trillion ($471 billion) until 2020, or BRL 28.4 billion ($12 billion) per year. This way total fuel savings would cover more than twice the additional investments required to implement the [R]E scenario,” Greenpeace explained. Meanwhile, on the ground, developers are gearing up to take part in the upcoming A-3 federal energy auction on Nov. 18, the first national auction that will include photovoltaic energy plants. All successful PV plants in the auction stand to gain 20-year supply contracts with electricity distribution companies that are seeking suppliers. The system of federal auctions, which single-handedly helped to develop Brazils booming wind energy market, is seen as the best shot for most solar developers in the country.
Acquired from: http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/pv-capacity-in-brazil-could-hit-100-gw-by-2050-_100012551/

The price of the power generated by PV stations in eastern regions will be kept at 1 yuan per kWh. “These policies will be a boost to China’s PV industry. We hope that companies will be encouraged to scale up their products’ standards,” said Li Caihua, an official with the NDRC. China’s PV industry has long been strained by the anti-dumping policies of the European Union, which is a major market for solar panel manufacturers. The government also boosted support for power plants that install equipment to limit air pollutants. Coal-based power plants are a major contributor to China’s air pollution. Power plants that install equipment to remove nitrogen oxide – a major air pollutant – will receive a subsidy of 0.01 yuan per kWh of electricity they produce starting from Sept 25, up from 0.008 yuan previously.
For the unique complete source, take a look at http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/china-subsidise-pv-power-units

China to subsidise PV power units

to develop a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic facility on about four acres of land its parent company owns in Kapolei, is moving forward after a final environmental assessment found the project would have no significant impact on the environment. The final EA was recently published in the state Office of Environmental Quality Controlas Environmental Notice, which says that Houston-based Chevron Technology Ventures does not need to prepare an environmental impact statement, although it still needs a key special management area permit. The Chevron Hawaii photovoltaic solar project, which includes multiple solar panels and a solar tracker that aims the panels directly at the sun throughout the day, will sell renewable energy to Hawaiian Electric Co. through its feed-in tariff or FIT program. No timeframe or cost for the development were given. Chevron Technology Ventures has been quite busy with other renewable energy projects at Chevron Corp.as (NYSE: CVX) Campbell Industrial Park facility. The company also is in the process of developing a 15.5-acre solar thermal demonstration project. Click here to download a PDF of the final EA. Duane Shimogawa covers energy, real estate and economic development for Pacific Business News. Related links:
For the first completed resource, have a look at http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2013/08/27/chevrons-hawaii-solar-photovoltaic.html

Chevron’s Hawaii solar photovoltaic project clears environmental hurdle

The loss of AUD$9.4 million (US$8.38 million), represents an increase of 6% year-on-year, while revenues decreased by 48%. The company increased its net loss in 2013 by 6%. Dyesol is currently attempting to commercialize organic photovoltaic dyes, to be applied to construction materials such as steel and glass. The company refers to the technology as DSC. The Australian based company was able to attract additional capital in 2013, in the form of $4 million from existing investors and $4 million from Saudi Arabias Tasnee . Tasnee is the National Industrialization Company of Saudi Arabi, and its investment in Dyesol was announced in February. Dyesol has been collaborating with Cristal Global, a Tasnee subsidiary, in the UK.
Look into the first version counting any variety of supplementary images or video playback by making sure to visithttp://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/dyesol-sees-falling-revenues–increased-losses_100012568/

Photovoltaic Fuses are UL 2579 listed.

Click Here to Enlarge Picture January 18, 2011 – Providing overcurrent protection at combiner box and inverter levels, Helio Protection HP6M, HP6J, and HP10M Fuses cover applications ranging from 1-400 A, 600 Vdc and 1,000 Vdc. Optimized fuse construction makes units suitable for continuous temperature and current cycling withstand. With minimum breaking capacity of 1.35 X fuse-rated current value, devices allow for safe circuit interruption under typical low-fault current conditions produced by PV arrays. (Archive News Story – Products mentioned in this Archive News Story may or may not be available from the manufacturer.) Original Press Release New Helio Protection Fuse Product Line Introducing the Industry’s First UL 2579 Listed Range of Dedicated Photovoltaic Fuses. Mersen is pleased to announce the launch of the industry’s first UL 2579 listed range of dedicated photovoltaic fuses – the Helio Protection fuse line, which includes the HP6M, HP10M, and HP6J. The new photovoltaic fuse line provides superior overcurrent protection at the combiner box and inverter levels and covers applications ranging from 1 to 400A, 600VDC, and 1000VDC.
Anyone can easily acquire a lot more by means of the original source at http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/Photovoltaic-Fuses-are-UL-2579-listed-590146

Photovoltaic (PV):

to develop a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic facility on about four acres of land its parent company owns in Kapolei, is moving forward after a final environmental assessment found the project would have no significant impact on the environment. The final EA was recently published in the state Office of Environmental Quality Controlas Environmental Notice, which says that Houston-based Chevron Technology Ventures does not need to prepare an environmental impact statement, although it still needs a key special management area permit. The Chevron Hawaii photovoltaic solar project, which includes multiple solar panels and a solar tracker that aims the panels directly at the sun throughout the day, will sell renewable energy to Hawaiian Electric Co. through its feed-in tariff or FIT program. No timeframe or cost for the development were given. Chevron Technology Ventures has been quite busy with other renewable energy projects at Chevron Corp.as (NYSE: CVX) Campbell Industrial Park facility. The company also is in the process of developing a 15.5-acre solar thermal demonstration project. Click here to download a PDF of the final EA. Duane Shimogawa covers energy, real estate and economic development for Pacific Business News.
Procured from: http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2013/08/27/chevrons-hawaii-solar-photovoltaic.html

Chevron’s Hawaii solar photovoltaic project clears environmental hurdle

But this one isn’t in the desert: it’s in one of the foggiest neighborhoods California has to offer. Commentary : Homeowners who have a little bit of extra cash when they install solar panels are often encouraged to add battery storage to their home system. But a Southern California utility just delivered some upsetting news to owners of those storage systems. Photovoltaic (PV) : At no more than 14 megawatts of planned capacity, San Diego Gas & Electric’s proposed Ocotillo Sol power plant is a lot smaller than many desert solar projects. But it’s still got wildlife and cultural protection activists concerned: the project would occupy 115 acres of Imperial County’s Yuha Desert that had been set aside for protection by the feds. Photovoltaic (PV) : We here in the Golden State are proud of our growing solar infrastructure, and rightly so. But two countries not necessarily known for their fabulous wealth have just put solar programs in place than make us look like we’re not serious by comparison.
For the primary comprehensive resource, take a glance at http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/solar/photovoltaic-pv/

DONAUER Solartechnik Exhibits at bauma Africa 2013

Both domestically and abroad, Donauer is working on projects whose rated output ranges from small hybrid systems starting at 100 kvA through to major industrial plant for over 17 years. In all cases, the focus is oriented on reducing operating costs while guaranteeing a reliable supply of energy. Only in July, Donauer received the order from Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) – Namibia’s largest brewery – to install a hybrid own consumption industrial photovoltaic system. When the brewery runs off the national grid, energy consumption costs are reduced dramatically by the innovative D:Hybrid model. Fuel-efficient operation is also guaranteed while running in backup mode alongside the diesel generator. Power from the renewable energy source is utilised whenever possible by the brewery’s production unit, thus keeping the company’s energy costs permanently low. In countries where energy provision via the public electricity grid is unreliable, diesel generators are often used to provide a basic power supply infrastructure. Donauer’s D:Hybrid Energy Management is a technical system solution designed to save diesel fuel by embedding solar power plant into generator-based electricity grids.
The finished document on which this curated clip was in fact based upon is actually located at http://green.tmcnet.com/news/2013/08/26/7365527.htm

Photovoltaic Fuses are UL 2579 listed.

With minimum breaking capacity of 1.35 X fuse-rated current value, devices allow for safe circuit interruption under typical low-fault current conditions produced by PV arrays. (Archive News Story – Products mentioned in this Archive News Story may or may not be available from the manufacturer.) Original Press Release New Helio Protection Fuse Product Line Introducing the Industry’s First UL 2579 Listed Range of Dedicated Photovoltaic Fuses. Mersen is pleased to announce the launch of the industry’s first UL 2579 listed range of dedicated photovoltaic fuses – the Helio Protection fuse line, which includes the HP6M, HP10M, and HP6J. The new photovoltaic fuse line provides superior overcurrent protection at the combiner box and inverter levels and covers applications ranging from 1 to 400A, 600VDC, and 1000VDC. The enhanced fuse construction of the Helio Protection series makes it ideal for continuous temperature and current cycling withstand adding to system longevity. Low minimum breaking capacity capabilities of 1.35 times the fuse-rated current value allows for safe circuit interruption under typical low-fault current conditions produced by PV arrays. Protect off-grid or grid-tied PV systems from unexpected ground faults and line faults using the Helio Protection fuse line.
Noted from: http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/Photovoltaic-Fuses-are-UL-2579-listed-590146

China Sees Recovery in PV Industry

We are pleased to mark the end of construction and commence operation.” Catalina Solar is one of the world’s largest photovoltaic facilities. It was built on 900 acres and includes a 7.2-mile (11.6-kilometer) transmission line that connects the facility to the substation. “The successful completion of this project on behalf of EDF Renewable Energy will help make solar more cost competitive with other sources of energy,” said Toby Seay, president of Bechtel’s communications, renewables, and transmission business line. “The build of facilities like Catalina will help spur innovation around solar technologies and strengthen our use of clean, renewable power.” Bechtel is a global leader in the design and execution of complex power projects and has been at the forefront of the power industry for more than 60 years. In addition to its work on the Catalina Solar project, the company is building two other solar facilities in California: the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Facility, which will be the world’s largest concentrating solar thermal power facility when complete, and the California Valley Solar Ranch, one of the world’s largest photovoltaic facilities currently under construction. About Bechtel: Bechtel is among the most respected engineering, project management, and construction companies in the world. We stand apart for our ability to get the job done rightno matter how big, how complex, or how remote. Bechtel operates through five global business units that specialize in civil infrastructure; power generation, communications, and transmission; mining and metals; oil, gas, and chemicals; and government services. Since its founding in 1898, Bechtel has worked on more than 22,000 projects in 140 countries on all seven continents.
I came across this really encouraging optimistic news write-up located on http://finance.yahoo.com/news/bechtel-completes-utility-scale-photovoltaic-204800189.html

Bechtel Completes Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Solar Power Project

26 (SMM) – NEA Releases 1st List of Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation Demonstration Districts Chinas National Energy Administration (NEA) recently released the 1st list of distributed photovoltaic power generation demonstration districts, involving 18 projects in 5 cities of 7 provinces. Competition in Chinas Photovoltaic Industry Intensifies Further The 7GW in photovoltaic quotas are far from sufficient for Chinese photovoltaic producers, which will further intensify competition in Chinas photovoltaic industry. China PV Industry Begins to Recover Tens of Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers managed to reverse losses during the first half of the year, thanks to favorable policies in China and growing demand from emerging markets. This echoes the data in the Photovoltaic Industry in China in H1 2013 released by the Ministry of Industry & Information Technology (MIIT), which also signaled a pickup in the industry. China Sees Slower Growth in Wind Power Generation in Jan.-July 2013 Wind power generation by power plants (6,000 KW) hit 79 billion KWH during the first seven months of the year, up 38.2% YoY, compared with a more than 40% growth in 2012 and an over 60% increase in 2011, according to the China Electricity Council (CEC). None of this material may be used for any commercial or public use in any forms or means, without the prior written consent of SMM.
Sourced from: http://www.metal.com/newscontent/52412_china-sees-recovery-in-pv-industry

2 Reported Dead in Plane Crash at Riverside County Solar Plant

The crash is still under preliminary investigation, but the California Highway Patrol says that it is thought the two occupants of the craft were killed in the crash. Details of the tragedy are sketchy, but Deputy Julio Oseguera of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department told ReWire that the plane was listed as flying for First Solar, which is building the nearby Desert Sunlight solar facility. Oseguera told ReWire that the occupants of the plane are presumed to have been First Solar employees. The victims’ names have not been released. The plane went down between Kaiser Road and Route 177 north of the small town of Desert Center, in the Chuckwalla Valley near the eastern edge of Joshua Tree National Park. UPDATE: Oseguera has informed ReWire that investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are now en route to the site. Story Continues Below Support KCET The solar facility, which First Solar is building for owners Next Era, GE, and Sumitomo, was buffeted by violent rainstorms during the course of the weekend, with roads washed out and power off in much of the Chuckwalla Valley. This is conjecture on our part, but the plane may have been in the air in an attempt to survey the extent of the damage, if any, that weekend storms did to the solar facility.
Originally encountered at http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/solar/photovoltaic-pv/two-reported-dead-in-plane-crash-at-riverside-county-solar-plant.html

Photovoltaic polarizers could make self-charging smartphone dreams come true

“The strong collaboration between this group at UCLA Engineering and other top groups has led to higher cell efficiencies, increasing the potential for harvesting energy. This approach is interesting in its own right and at the same time synergetic with several other projects we are funding through the Intel Labs Academic Research Office.” Ankit Kumar, a materials science and engineering graduate student at UCLA Engineering was the paper’s second author. Yang, who holds UCLA’s Carol and Lawrence E. Tannas Jr. Endowed Chair in Engineering, is also faculty director of the Nano Renewable Energy Center at the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA. The research was supported by Intel through a gift to UCLA, and by the Office of Naval Research. The UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, established in 1945, offers 28 academic and professional degree programs and has an enrollment of almost 5,000 students. The school’s distinguished faculty are leading research to address many of the critical challenges of the 21st century, including renewable energy, clean water, health care, wireless sensing and networking, and cybersecurity. Ranked among the top 10 engineering schools at public universities nationwide, the school is home to seven multimillion-dollar interdisciplinary research centers in wireless sensor systems, nanoelectronics, nanomedicine, renewable energy, customized computing, and the smart grid, all funded by federal and private agencies.
To get more detailed, look at the initial document right here: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/photovoltaic-polarizers-could-make-self-charging-smartphone-drea/

Photovoltaic Components Suppliers

Backsheet dielectric films for PV panels are available. Products include Tedlar/polyester/Tedlar dielectric films, Tedlar/polyester/EVA dielectric films and polyethylene/polyester/polyethylene dielectric films. Pressure sensitive and heat sealable framing and masking films are also available. Coating/laminating and slitting services are available. Northstar Systems – Rancho Cucamonga, CA Manufacturer, Custom Manufacturer ISO 9001:2008 & ISO 14064-1:2006 certified worldwide manufacturer of standard & custom photovoltaic components including connectors, cables & junction products. Photovoltaic components are designed for connectivity, communication & interconnection product applications.
Evaluate the first version counting any kind of supplemental pictures or video clips by clicking to http://www.thomasnet.com/products/photovoltaic-components-95909040-1.html

Goldpoly Signs Conditional Agreementfor Acquisition of 400MW Solar Power Plants

TENG Aihua, General Manager of Poly Solar Technologies and Mr. LIU Jidong, Head of Forty-eighth Research Institute signed the agreement on behalf of all parties today. According to the agreement, GD Solar, NARI, GUODIAN Inner Mongolia New Energy, Poly Solar Technologies and Forty-eighth Research Institute will build solar power plants in China. GD Solar will conduct engineering, procurement and construction (“EPC”) activities and own 100% equity in the projects. Goldpoly will acquire the projects from GD Solar after the solar power plants are connected to grids and have passed inspections. Goldpoly will acquire from GD Solar certain completed solar power plants with an aggregate electricity generation capacity of approximately 400MW. The acquisition’s fulfillment conditions include having passed relevant PRC government regulatory requirements; obtaining all approval documents from relevant government authorities; completing construction and having been connected to grids; EPC contracts having been approved by third party and financial requirements etc. Provided that the internal rate of return for the total investment of the Company will not be less than 9%, the consideration will be calculated based on the on-grid electricity price and other data as a reference. Mr. XU Zhong, General Manager of GD Solar said, “GD Solar has been committed to the development and application of new energy since its setup.
The full document on which this curated clip was in fact derived from can be found at http://finance.yahoo.com/news/goldpoly-signs-conditional-agreementfor-acquisition-155500894.html

Powering up the drones with solar photovoltaic

California-based AeroVironment is still tinkering with the design of the drone, which is part of its Puma AE line. It plans to roll out a design that it could produce and sell in early 2014. AeroVironment, announced that a recent outdoor test flight of a solar-powered prototype version of the companys proven Puma AE small unmanned aircraft system (UAS), operating with the companys newest long-endurance battery, lasted 9 hours, 11 minutes significantly longer than the flight endurance of small UAS being used in the field today. AeroVironment is working with Alta Devices, a Sunnyvale, Calif. company that provides flexible, portable power that can be embedded into any other material, in the development of the solar Puma AE. This is a critical milestone with far-reaching implications for the many ways small UAS can benefit military, public safety and commercial customers, said Roy Minson, AeroVironment senior vice president and general manager, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The solar Puma AE is the latest example of AeroVironments longstanding commitment to deliver important, innovative solutions that meet our customers needs. Our integration of this cutting-edge technology dramatically increases Pumas current flight endurance using a clean, renewable power source, Minson added, this development can give Puma AE customers significantly increased capabilities that approach those of the next class of UAS at a much lower acquisition and operating cost, and with much greater operational flexibility. AeroVironments new long endurance battery extends Puma AEs non-solar endurance to more than three hours.
The complete document on which this partial clip was in fact based can be located at http://www.evwind.es/2013/08/21/powering-up-the-drones-with-solar-photovoltaic/35276

Japan: government approves 19 GW in non-residential PV

Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts that between 6.9 GW and 9.4 GW of capacity will be added to the grid in the country in the calendar year 2013. Looking towards monthly applications for approvals under the FIT scheme, the effect of the reduction in the FIT rate, scheduled for installations approved after March 2013, is evident. Applications for non-residential photovoltaic installations totaled 7.669 GW in March, compared to 5.263 GW in February and 1.892 GW in January. Applications approved from April 1 receive 37.8 yen/kWh (USD$0.39/kWh). Indicating that some projects may have been approved however construction and installation delayed, METI issued a statement saying that projects will be investigated. Projects require both METI and local utility approval. One delay of possible delays that could halt installations are grid challenges facing the island of Hokkaido.
I noticed this particularly interesting excellent news report located on http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/japan–government-approves-19-gw-in-non-residential-pv_100012441/

Not All Solar Materials Are From China: Photovoltaic Backsheets By FLEXcon

SHANGHAI, Aug. 21 (SMM) – China Releases 1st List of Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation Demonstration Districts Chinas National Energy Administration released the 1st list of distributed photovoltaic power generation demonstration districts, involving 18 projects in 5 cities of 7 provinces. Shaanxis Fengxiang County Enhances Environmental Supervision over Heavy Metal Enterprises The government of Fengxiang County, Shaanxi Province, is enhancing environmental supervision over heavy metal enterprises amid growing concerns over heavy metal pollution. China Exports Photovoltaic Products to Emerging Countries against Sluggish European and US Markets Chinas photovoltaic product exports to Japan hit USD 1.29 billion during the first half of the year, roughly 4 fold over the same period last year. However, the surge in exports was not the result of robust demand from emerging markets, but because Chinese producers were forced to export to countries other than Europe and the US where demand was sluggish, said Ren Haoning, researcher at CIConsulting. None of this material may be used for any commercial or public use in any forms or means, without the prior written consent of SMM. For news cooperation issue, please contact us by email: smmweekly@smm.cn Copyright SMM. All Rights Reserved Other Copper News
Initially located at: http://www.metal.com/newscontent/52284_china-releases-1st-list-of-distributed-photovoltaic-power-generation-demonstration-districts

China Releases 1st List of Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation Demonstration Districts

Made in the USA certainly does not seem synonymous with solar power these days. And yet the Solar Energy Industries Association states that 29,000 jobs are employed in solar manufacturing across 650 sites. Some of these jobs are in module facilities, such as Sunivas recently announced expansion in Norcross Georgia , or SolarWorlds production facility in Oregon (the largest in the U.S.) . Other companies contribute to the manufacturing effort as well, making additional components for the industry. FLEXcon is one such company that toils quietly in the background, on the backside of the industry, if you will. Their experience in making module backsheets is a lesson in adaptation and survival in a cutthroat industry, and provides some hope for the future of American manufacturing. In photovoltaics, most people think about the top of the solar panel where the crystal silicon meets the sun. But the underside of the panel, the backsheet, is critical as well. Michelle Lamontagne, Director of Photovoltaic and Barrier at FLEXcon provided me with an education on backsheets, and their importance in the overall scheme of things. The backsheet gets the dirty but highly important job of protecting the working components of the module from the weather and serving as an electrical insulator for periods in excess of 25 years. There can be no degradation, delamination, or leakage of power. Its a critical component. If you look at cost structure, backsheets are one of the least expensive components, yet they have one of the larger responsibilities as far as functionality and protection. says Lamontagne. As with all of the other elements of solar panels which have fallen in price by as much as two-thirds since 2011 backsheets have been subjected to extreme pricing pressures. Lamontagne comments You have to balance the expected performance and the cost structure. The backsheet is about 3-5 percent of total panel costs, and costs have fallen just in the past year, in part because other alternate materials have become available and because of price pressures. They are about 50-75 percent lower than when we historically started manufacturing over ten years ago. According to Lamontagne, there are only a half-dozen or so major backsheet suppliers globally. FLEXcon, which is based in Spencer, Massachusetts, is one of them. The privately held company has a global reach and about a million square feet of manufacturing capability across five facilities in the U.S.
Acquired from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterdetwiler/2013/08/19/not-all-solar-materials-are-from-china-photovoltaic-backsheets-by-flexcon/

NC solar development seeing a summer spike

Gehrlicher Solar America Corporation Completes Phase 1 of 7.2 Megawatt Photovoltaic System for UniSource Energy Services

aWe have partnered with investment houses and financial institutions outside the state that find value now in the N.C. solar markets,a Habul says, explaining the sudden spike in proposed construction. aThatas true not just for us, but for developers in the state in general.a Leading developers Strata Solar , based in Chapel Hill, is also on a construction spree this year and has proposed significantly more projects than it built last year. And the company is building two 20-megawatt projects for the Tennessee Valley Authority in that state. Strata and SunEnergy1 are the North Carolinaas leading solar developers right now. Large projects All of Habulas proposed N.C. projects are in the eastern part of the state.
First discovered at: http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/power_city/2013/08/nc-solar-development-seeing-a-summer.html

Solar energy positioned to boom in Florida

You have taken a significant step — both symbolically and practically — and I thank you for having the courage to take it. But, Mr. President, even as I applaud you, I present you with a question: Why the heck did it take you so long? And more importantly, cannot you do more? During your first presidential campaign you pledged support for solar energy, and three years ago when we met at an Earth Day function on the White House lawn, you actually said it was a good idea to put solar panels on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I realize that home improvement projects can sometimes take a while to implement — and I understand that those on the residence of our Commander-in-Chief can take longer — but forgive me if I wonder what caused such a delay given your historically strong rhetoric in support of solar power. In making the move to install solar on the White House you have enlisted yourself and your lovely family into an ever-growing solar movement called The Rooftop Revolution of which I am also a proud member. Our movement counts many business executives, environmentalists and political leaders in our ranks, but for the most part, it is made up of regular citizens who recognize the win-win-win proposition of solar power — that it saves them money, it creates jobs and it is better for the environement.
For the first complete source, check this stuff out at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danny-kennedy/white-house-solar-power_b_3769527.html

Terry Clausing is a liscensed engineer from Ohio who is passionate about building development and awareness. He often teaches courses about resource awareness and is a partner of Drysdale Energy LLC. As CleanEdison offers specialty classes, such as LEED Green Associate preparation, it only made sense to add an expert in specialty education advising. John Parnell advises clients for a wide variety of educational platforms including corporate and professional education, career school, for-profit K-12, and post-secondary institutions. Financial expert Jacob Voorhees also brings knowledge revolving around investment banking and consumer acquisition. His advisory position focuses on education and technology industries, qualifying him as a perfect advisor for CleanEdisons solar energy training . Utilizing experts in a variety of financial, educational and alternative energy fields provides a well rounded advisory board for CleanEdison.
For more, take a look at the primary source listed here: http://www.sfgate.com/business/press-releases/article/CleanEdison-Leaders-in-Solar-Energy-Training-4743963.php

Solar Power at the White House: What Took So Long?

And it offers the city a hedge against rising power costs for decades. “It’s no risk and it’s the lowest-cost solar power in the market place,” said Jerry Warren of the city’s utility department. “That savings will definitely benefit our customers.” “That’s pretty much a game changer,” Fenton said of the lease agreements. Here’s how leasing will work with the new homes in the Del Webb communities. Home buyers have a choice of a 20-year lease on a small preinstalled system, listed as 2 kilowatts, or they can upgrade all the way to an 8-kilowatt system that would generate roughly the 1,000 kilowatt hours used by the average Florida utility customer each month. SolarCity says the Del Webb customers will save at least an estimated $300 a year in electric costs. For instance, a typical three-bedroom house might have a current electricity bill of $200 a month. SolarCity says a medium-sized solar system would generate enough electricity to lower the $200 utility bill to $60 per month. The solar lease would require nothing down and about $110 per month.
Explore the first version and this includes any kind of supplementary visuals or video footage by making sure to visithttp://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/solar-energy-positioned-to-boom-in-florida/2136868

CleanEdison – Leaders in Solar Energy Training – Introduces a New Advisory Board That Exhibits Experts in Renewable Power

A GES assures long-term power yield providing an optimized, individualized solution for the specific location while making efficient and low cost use of the technology components. The UES-owned Rio Rico generation facility consists of 24,400 fixed-tilt solar modules and four inverters. Gehrlicher chose Southwest Energy Solutions to perform the electrical portion of the work on the system. UES is a subsidiary of Tucson-based UniSource Energy Corporation ( UNS ), which also serves as the corporate parent of Tucson Electric Power (TEP). The Rio Rico solar energy project is an important component in our Companys strategy to provide UES customers with clean, affordable renewable energy. Our development partner, Gehrlicher Solar America, has been outstanding.
For even more, look at the main resource on this page: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/gehrlicher-solar-america-corporation-completes-133700309.html

Solar energy positioned to boom in Florida

Japan Solar Energy Soars, But Grid Needs to Catch Up

The leasing companies also perform maintenance and repair panels throughout the length of the agreement. “We believe the model we’ve adopted and many other companies will adopt in Florida is the most efficient way to scale solar in Florida,” said John Porter, managing partner of Clean Footprint, which is focusing on business and government retrofits with solar. “There is some risk for the customer,” Porter said. “But we shoulder most of the risk.” The risk, Fenton says, will diminish over time. Right now, solar installations currently benefit from a 30 percent federal income tax credit that remains in effect through 2016, plus an early depreciation benefit that expires this year. But even without the tax benefits, Fenton said economic trends including a steady drop in up-front costs show that solar will become increasingly affordable. Currently, it would take Florida residents as long as nine years worth of lower electric bills to “pay off” the up-front costs of a solar installation, according to the Solar Energy Center. By 2025, that will drop to as little as a two years.
Originally uncovered at: http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/solar-energy-positioned-to-boom-in-florida/2136868

Duke Energy Buys 4.5MW Solar Farm

Mr. President, you will be back on the civilian side of life in as much time as it has taken you to put solar on the White House . I urge you to use your remaining time in office wisely, and to the benefit of the nation you were elected to lead twice. You are not the first president to put solar panels on the White House. Jimmy Carter did it during his presidency, only to have them removed by his successor, Ronald Reagan. Will you be the president who leads the charge into a prosperous, secure, clean energy future?
You may be able to study more by way of the primary source at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danny-kennedy/white-house-solar-power_b_3769527.html

Solar energy almost ready to compete without subsidies

The acquisition comes four months after Duke Energy Renewables bought two commercial solar power projects, namely, Highlander Solar 1 and 2, for an undisclosed amount from SolarWorld. Located near Twentynine Palms, Calif., both the projects will run as a single operation as it is located almost next to each other. Together, Highlander Solar 1 and 2 will generate 21 megawatts ( MW ) of renewable energy, which is sufficient to power more than 4,000 average homes every year. Under a 20-year purchase power agreement, all the electricity generated from the two projects will be sold to Edison International ( EIX ). Currently, Duke Energy Renewables has more than 100 MW of solar generating capacity from 16 various farms. Since 2007, Duke Energy has invested more than $3 billion to grow its commercial wind and solar business. Recently, the utilitys adjusted second quarter 2013 earnings came in below our expectation and were also below the year-ago figure by 14.7%. The lower numbers mainly reflect higher costs and the impact of share dilution from the Progress Energy merger and lower quarterly results at both the Commercial Power and International Energy business units.
Acquired from: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/duke-energy-buys-4-5mw-141003718.html

Solar Power at the White House: What Took So Long?

Only three frequency converter stations are located on the boundary between the two regions, with the ability to convert less than one percent of the nation’s power generation capacity. While the FIT law obligates utilities to provide access to the grids and purchase all of the generated renewable power, there are provisions that allow them to restrict or deny access to ensure the stability of electricity supply. According to a survey of companies involved in solar projects by the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation, 20 percent of the respondents said they were denied access by local utilities due to overcapacity, while 37 percent were told there would be limits to the amount of electricity that the utilities could accept. With regional utilities planning to put their nuclear power plants back online, there is speculation that grid capacity alone may not be the reason for Hokkaido Electric’s decision to limit its purchases of renewable energy. Four of the ten utilities, including Hokkaido Electric, submitted applications this summer to have their nuclear facilities examined for safety review and restart under new guidelines set by the Nuclear Regulation Authority. All are suffering losses due to skyrocketing fuel pricesmostly for natural gaswhile the nuclear stations are out of operation. Paying above-market rates for renewables is an additional cost. Softbank, which now operates five renewable energy plants and has plans for nine more nationwide, has learned its project to build three large solar power plants in Hokkaido with a combined capacity of more than 180,000 kilowatts is on hold, as Hokkaido Electric hasn’t specified which of the applicants will be allowed to connect to the grid.
You can easily find out much more by way of the original resource at http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2013/08/130814-japan-solar-energy-incentive/

Costs have fallen by a quarter over the past year alone because of the flood of cheap Chinese panels. Washington expects a “non-linear” surge in solar expansion once the key threshold is reached, “paving the way for rapid, largescale adoption of solar electricity across the U.S.,” with solar providing 27 per cent of U.S. power by 2050. If so, solar may prove a bigger story than shale in the end. “This could take off very fast and catch a lot of people by surprise. The oil and gas industry is starting to smell that renewables are really dangerous for them,” said Solarcentury’s Leggett. Like all solar survivors, he has emotion invested in his dream. What is new is that big global banks are starting to agree. UBS kicked off earlier this year with a report on the “unsubsidized solar revolution,” arguing that every rooftop in Italy, Spain and Germany should have a solar cover, based purely on hard economics.
The complete document on which this partial clip was in fact based upon is actually available at http://www.leaderpost.com/technology/Solar+energy+almost+ready+compete+without+subsidies/8801342/story.html

Solar Power Shines in Middle East Enhanced Oil Recovery

forecasting 35 percent growth in global energy demand from 2010 to 2040 companies such as Royal Dutch Shell plc and Chevron Corp. have turned to EOR techniques, including solar EOR, a form of thermal EOR, to boost recovery of oil resources from maturing fields. The oil and gas industry recovers an average of around 35 percent of oil from reservoirs, leaving the rest trapped in the rock, according to the International Energy Agencys (IEA) Resources to Reserves 2013. Even a one percent increase in the average recovery factor could add more than 80 billion barrels, or six percent, to global proven oil reserves, a IEA spokesperson told Rigzone, IEA noted. Glass Point Technology Boosts Oil Recovery, Saves on Gas, Costs To address the high capital costs associated with solar, Fremont, California-based Glass Point Solar Inc. created the Enclosed Trough solar field, in which curved aluminum mirrors used in place of solar panels and an aiming system and other vulnerable components contained inside a commercial glasshouse structure typically used in agriculture. The Enclosed Trough solar field harnesses solar power production that boosts oil recovery while reducing the amount of natural gas consumed in the process and carbon dioxide emitted by up to 80 percent. The mirrors track the sun during the day, focusing sunlight on a stationary boiler tube containing water. The sun’s heat then boils water in a stationary boiler tube that produces high pressure steam used to boost oil production.
You can uncover a lot more by way of the primary resource at http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/128442/Solar_Power_Shines_in_Middle_East_Enhanced_Oil_Recovery/?all=HG2

Japan Solar Energy Soars, But Grid Needs to Catch Up

Arista Power Receives $574,000 Order From Stan’s Harley-Davidson Dealership For 166kW Solar Photovoltaic Array

Softbank, which now operates five renewable energy plants and has plans for nine more nationwide, has learned its project to build three large solar power plants in Hokkaido with a combined capacity of more than 180,000 kilowatts is on hold, as Hokkaido Electric hasn’t specified which of the applicants will be allowed to connect to the grid. Softbank founder and CEO Son has been openly critical: “There’s no point in working to generate solar power if the utilities refuse to connect us,” Son said in a video message to the Natural Energy Council in May. “It destroys the fundamental meaning of the (FIT) law.” Experts have also pointed out a sharp discrepancy between the number of applications approved and the number of projects actually started. Only 4 percent of the 11 million kilowatts of large solar facilities that have been approved actually had started operations as of February. Trade ministry officials attribute the delay to a shortage of equipment due to the sudden burst in demand as well as the need to negotiate the grid access with the regional utility. But some believe that speculators have gotten into the business, applying early just to secure the high FIT price with the plan of reselling the “right to build a PV facility” later, when the government has lowered the official rate per kilowatt-hour.
Browse the first version these include any additional images or video playback by stopping byhttp://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2013/08/130814-japan-solar-energy-incentive/

Stan’s Harley-Davidson is a second generation retail and service dealership occupying a 28,000 square foot facility on the north side of Batavia, New York. The solar system will be comprised of more than 600 American-made solar panels mounted on the storefront’s roof. The 166kW system will be tied into the building’s existing electrical service and will be interconnected to National Grid’s transmission lines. The solar photovoltaic array is projected to generate 100% of Stan’s current annual consumption of electricity and will provide a payback of just over seven years after taking in account New York State and Federal incentives. Arista Power expects to install the solar PV array in the first half of the fourth quarter of 2013. Darryl Horzempa, President and Owner of Stan’s Harley-Davidson, said “Now is the time for us to invest into the solar market, especially with all of the tax credits and incentives available for New York businesses. We have focused on reducing our power consumption to a point where this 166kW solar PV system will generate all of our electricity needed on a yearly basis.” Mr. Horzempa continued, “Making this investment in solar will fix our energy costs moving forward, and help better plan for future generations in our family business. This solar PV array is one of the centerpieces of our sustainability initiative, along with our environmental outlook and recycling programs.” “This order from Stan’s Harley-Davidson demonstrates the value we can provide to commercial customers by tailoring our suite of renewal energy solutionsto meet the specific needs of each customer based on their individual energy usage profiles,” said Mark Matthews, President of Arista Power. “From stand-alone solarenergy systemsto the integration of solar and/or wind energy with our patent-pending Power on Demand peak demand shaving system, we believe that ourcapabilities to create and implementa wide range of customer-specific renewable-based energy saving solutions for residential, commercial and military applications differentiates Arista Power and will lead to more successes going forward.” About Arista Power, Inc.
Originally found at http://finance.yahoo.com/news/arista-power-receives-574-000-170000084.html

U.S. photovoltaic power installations rise 33 pct in 1st quarter

is a report of the synthesis of a photoelectrochemical complex broadly mimicking the regeneration process of a leaf 18 . The molecular assembly/disassembly of the components, such as lipids, proteins, carbon nanotubes and photosynthetic reaction centre, is reversibly controlled by presence or absence of surfactants. The uniform distribution and circulation of water, ions and photosynthate in natural leaves are enabled by their venation network. This natural microfluidic channel structure facilitates the basic functions of a leaf including photosynthesis and enables the regeneration of photoactive molecules 19 , 20 . We present a practical prototype of biomimetic photovoltaic devices with structure mimicking this regeneration functionality of a plant leaf. The device is based on a naturally derived agarose hydrogel, with embedded network of microfluidic channels. The principles of transport of the photoactive reagents, dye and electrolytes, supplied into the microfluidic network will be discussed. We report a simple and reliable process for the regeneration of this microfluidic hydrogel solar cell by controlling the pH-dependent desorption/adsorption kinetics of the dye molecules on the photoanode. Finally, we demonstrate the photocurrent recovery of the biomimetic solar cells damaged by intense UV illumination. Results Supplementary information Design of biomimetic microvascular network and dye infusion The device is generating photocurrent similarly to a common DSSC system, however it includes a matrix of hydrogel with microchannels allowing dye infusion and replenishment.
I spotted this particularly interesting positive news piece located on http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/130805/srep02357/full/srep02357.html

Chemists, Industrial Engineers, and Solar Photovoltaic Installers Among the Best Jobs in Energy, Says New CareerCast.com Report

photovoltaic power installations rise 33 pct in 1st quarter Technology June 11 | Tue Jun 11, 2013 11:31am EDT June 11 (Reuters) – New solar photovoltaic power installations in the United States totaled 723 megawatts (MW) during the first quarter, up 33 percent over the same period in 2012, industry analysts said in a report on Tuesday. GTM Research and Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) forecast that during 2013, the industry will install 4.4 gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaic power facilities – enough to power about 800,000 average American homes. That will rise to nearly 9.2 GW annually in 2016. As the cost of solar photovoltaic panels declines, solar power is one of the fastest-growing new energy sources in United States “Installations will speed up over the next four years as projects become economically preferable to retail power in more locations,” said Shayle Kann, vice president of research at renewable power information company GTM, a unit of Greentech Media. Kann warned, however, that changes to net metering and electricity rate structures could serve as the market’s primary barrier. SEIA is an industry trade group. The report said the average residential photovoltaic system price fell below $5.00 per watt, while the average nonresidential system price fell below $4.00 per watt. The report also said concentrating solar power capacity is expected to make “major gains” by the end of the year, adding more than 900 MW of capacity. The report looked at both photovoltaic power, which uses solar panels to generate power, and concentrating solar power, which uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight on a tower or other structure to heat liquid to produce steam to power a turbine. It said the United States now has more than 8.5 GW of installed solar capacity and is expected to add 5.3 GW in 2013.
First stumbled upon at http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/11/utilities-usa-solarpower-idUSL2N0EN0R920130611

Regenerable Photovoltaic Devices with a Hydrogel-Embedded Microvascular Network

Finance Thu, Aug 15, 2013, 7:41 AM EDT – U.S. Markets open in 1 hr 49 mins Chemists, Industrial Engineers, and Solar Photovoltaic Installers Among the Best Jobs in Energy, Says New CareerCast.com Report Press Release: CareerCast.com Tue, Aug 13, 2013 6:00 AM EDT Print CARLSBAD, Calif., Aug. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Chemists, Geoscientists, Industrial Engineers, and Wind Turbine Service Technicians are among some of the most promising career opportunities in the energy industry, according to CareerCast’s 2013 Jobs Rated report on the energy sector. The energy industry is a universal employer, with career opportunities covering a very diverse spectrum. There are many obvious job options in energy, ranging from petroleum engineers, derrick operators and oil rig workers in the oil and gas sector, to geoscientists at the major energy companies. Another boon to energy employment is the growth of renewable energy sources, which are of increasing importance to the industry. New types of jobs, such as wind turbine service technician and solar photovoltaic installer, offer growing opportunities. But there are many more career paths that cover a wide spectrum of functional skills and abilities.
For the first comprehensive resource, take a glance at http://finance.yahoo.com/news/chemists-industrial-engineers-solar-photovoltaic-100000428.html

Photovoltaic Thermal System Achieves 86% Efficiency

But the reason electricity is considered high-grade energy is that its more versatile. Heating water is great, but its only one job. Converting sunlight to heat and electricity, and doing both efficiently, would be a double-win. Give it a short payback period and youve hit the trifecta! A PVT system includes a solar thermal collector (as shown above) that mounts underneath a photovoltaic panel. A typical PV cell has an efficiency of 15% under ideal conditions.
For the original completed source, check it out at http://www.engineering.com/ElectronicsDesign/ElectronicsDesignArticles/ArticleID/6123/Photovoltaic-Thermal-System-Achieves-86-Efficiency.aspx

JinkoSolar, Cenergy Power build photovoltaic system at farm

The data confirm the regeneration and photocurrent recovery of the -FGPVs after accelerated degradation of the dye molecules by illumination with intense UV light. The violet-colored regions represent the periods of intense illumination. The dotted arrows are guides to the eye. The washing and activation steps were performed for 5hrs each. Supplementary information Photovoltaic systems based on photosensitive organic dye molecules could be a simple and economical alternative to conventional solar cells, and have been actively developed for decades 1 , 2 , 3 . The best examples of such devices are the common dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) 4 , 5 , though other systems based on a dye-embedded hydrogel or naturally derived photoactive molecules have also been reported recently 6 , 7 , 8 . Since the organic dyes are generally susceptible to light, high temperature or water, however, the degradation of photoactive molecules in the dye-based photovoltaic systems could be a critical problem, which leads to deterioration of the long-term performance of these photovoltaic cells 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 . Photosystems, which are organic photoactive complexes forming the core of plant leaves involved in photosynthesis, also suffer from light-induced damage.
Investigate the first version and this includes any type of additional visuals or video by clicking to http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/130805/srep02357/full/srep02357.html

Regenerable Photovoltaic Devices with a Hydrogel-Embedded Microvascular Network

Aiea-based Hawaii Energy Connection had the second-largest number of permits pulled in July, after Utah-based Vivint Solar. Email | Google+ | Twitter | LinkedIn The solar photovoltaic industry, one of the fastest growing sectors in Hawaii, may be showing signs of slowing down a July was the third straight month showing a year-over-year decline in permits issued on Oahu, according to new statistics collected by Marco Mangelsdorf , president of Hilo-based ProVision Solar. There were 1,163 solar PV permits issued by the City and County of Honolulu last month, which actually was an increase from 980 permits issued in June and 932 permits issued in May, but fewer than the 1,466 permits issued in July 2012. The peak month for permits issued during the past year-and-a-half was October, when there were 2,433 permits issued. Among the top solar companies, Utah-based Vivint Solar led the way, followed by Aiea-based Hawaii Energy Connection, Honolulu-based Alternate Energy, California-based SolarCity and Honolulu-based RevoluSun , which rounded out the top five in permits pulled from January through July. SolarCity rose to the top in terms of the year-over-year percentage increase in permits pulled with an bump of 125 percent. Hawaii Energy Connection (59 percent), Vivint Solar (54 percent), Maui-based Haleakala Solar (33 percent) and Alternate Energy (18 percent) rounded out the top five in this category. Duane Shimogawa covers energy, real estate and economic development for Pacific Business News. Related links:
One can discover a lot more by means of the original source at http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2013/08/12/hawaiis-solar-photovoltaic-industry.html

Hawaii’s solar photovoltaic industry sees permit decline for third month in a row

JinkoSolar, Cenergy Power build photovoltaic system at farm 08/09/2013 By Editors of Electric Light & Power/ POWERGRID International Sponsored by Photovoltaic manufacturer JinkoSolar Holding Co. supplied 2.2 MW of solar PV modules to HMC Farms, which will span across 390,000 square feet of ground space and enable HMC to hedge against rising electric utility charges on two cold storage and packaging meters. The solar power plant was developed and is being built by California based Cenergy Power, an integrator of solar power systems. The solar power array will be built at the facilities of HMC Farms, a grower, shipper and packer of peaches, plums, etc. The giant ground mounted solar system is designed to produce over 3.4 million kWh of energy annually, which will reduce the plant’s energy needs by 68 percent and provide an attractive 4-year unlevered return on investment. JinkoSolar distributes its photovoltaic products to a customer base in the global PV market, including Germany, Italy, Belgium, Spain, the U.S., France, Eastern Europe, China, India, Japan, South Africa and other countries and regions. Sponsored by
To get more, have a look at the original reference listed here: http://www.elp.com/articles/2013/8/jinkosolar-cenergy-power-build-photovoltaic-system-at-farm.html

Solar Suburbia to Power Modern Cities

In collaboration with the New Zealand Energy Centre and the University of Auckland, Byrd and his colleagues found that detached suburban houses typical of a motor car age city are capable of producing ten times more solar power than is possible from skyscrapers or other commercial buildings. The calculations are based on a detailed cross section of Auckland, which has skyscrapers in its business centre but has most of its homes spread out over the surrounding countryside in an urban sprawl. Byrds idea is that if planners insist solar panels be fitted to properties and charging points be provided for electric cars, then cities judged to be damaging to the environment could be transformed. While a compact city may be more efficient for internal combustion engine vehicles, a dispersed city is more efficient when distributed generation of electricity by photovoltaic installations is the main energy source and electric vehicles are the principal mode of transport says Byrd. This research could have implications on the policies of both urban form and energy. Far from reacting by looking to re-build our cities, we need to embrace the dispersed suburban areas and smart new technologies that will enable us to power our cities in a cost-effective way, without relying on ever dwindling supplies of fossil fuels. Sprawl is good This study challenges conventional thinking that suburbia is energy-inefficient, a belief that has become enshrined in architectural policy.
For more, have a look at the main resource on this site: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/solar_suburbia_to_power_modern_cities_20130809/

SolarCity whipsawed in solar-sector selloff

And thats probably reason enough for plenty of investors to use the companys quarterly report as an excuse to lock in some pretty hefty profits. But theres another factor motivating sellers. First Solar Inc. /quotes/zigman/102025 /quotes/nls/fslr FSLR reported its second-quarter results after the close Tuesday. It missed expectations by a mile, printing 39 cents a share vs. consensus of 56 cents. It also cut its full-year 2013 outlook.
To get more detailed, have a look at the initial document on this site: http://blogs.marketwatch.com/energy-ticker/2013/08/08/solarcity-whipsawed-in-solar-sector-selloff/

Report Counts Up Solar Power Land Use Needs

Keeping up with the new solar policy, the state government issued a letter of intent to seven companies, Colonizers and Developers, Jackson Power Pvt Ltd, DK Infracon Pvt Ltd, Rifex Energy Pct Ltd, Essel Infra Project, Azure Surya Pvt Ltd and Moserbaer Clean Energy Ltd. This would enable them to set up solar power plants with a total installed capacity of 130 MW in the Bundelkhand region. Akhilesh govt looks to solar energy to bridge power shortfall Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said his government was committed to ensuring maximum power supply to the state through different resources. The state government had come up with a new solar energy policy earlier this year. The government has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for acquiring around 424 MW of power for the next 25 years from the year 2016 by Lanco Power Limited. This is the second such agreement in the last one month. Government officials said these initiatives were part of efforts of the state government to bridge the yawning gap between demand and supply of electricity in the state.
For the initial complete source, check this stuff out at http://ibnlive.in.com/news/akhilesh-govt-looks-to-solar-energy-to-bridge-power-shortfall/413199-3-242.html

Solar benefits set to dim

Early birds locked in the best rebates that were designed to fade as equipment prices dropped. In San Diego and southern Orange counties, rebates for residential solar installations already have been exhausted as a result of the programs popularity, though a short extension is still possible. Rebates for small, nonresidential arrays and solar hot water heaters are still available. The payback for installing solar is now shifting to other state provisions, along with a federal solar tax break. 700 to 800 Rooftop solar arrays that are being installed each month in San Diego Gas & Electric territory 26,000 Approximate number of SDG&E customers that now generate their own solar power No-money-down lease agreements, which wrap in incentives, have democratized rooftop solar energy systems that otherwise can cost tens of thousands of dollars upfront. Rooftop solar installers, meanwhile, have seized upon a major utility rate hike to drum up business. Bill increases take effect Sept. 1 for San Diego and southern Orange counties. State rules help Sullivan Solar, a top contractor for solar installations in San Diego County, had its biggest sales month ever in July, while advertising solar panels as energy independence against utility rate increases. Daniel Sullivan, president of the company, said the sectors success is underwritten chiefly by state rules for billing customers. Those regulations effectively double kilowatt-hour rates for households using the most energy over the least intensive customers.
First rediscovered at http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/aug/10/benefits-set-to-dim/

Akhilesh govt looks to solar energy to bridge power shortfall

Census Bureau , there are around 115 million occupied and fully used homes in the country. If we just scale up linearly (which is not, of course, how this would actually work), that means 3.68 million acres to power all of them. That’s equivalent to 5 750 square miles, or around 0.1 percent of all the land the US has to offer. Not bad! Perhaps more relevant is the question of how these land use requirements measure up to other forms of energy. When it comes to renewables, there’s no doubt that solar power is far more area-efficient than wind power; an NREL report [PDF] from several years ago found a total requirement of about 84 acres per MW, a far cry from the 10 or so acres that solar seems to max out at. Geothermal energy might be the best of the bunch, though, in the low single digits. Outside of renewables, things can get a bit complicated.
See the original version adding any kind of supplementary photos or video playback by visitinghttp://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/green-tech/solar/report-counts-up-solar-power-land-use-needs