New Energy Enters Development Agreement with NREL

As part of its efforts to advance the commercial development of SolarWindow(TM), capable of generating electricity on see-thru glass, New Energy Technologies, Inc. has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado.




"The addition of NREL's world-class solar research group to our ongoing efforts at the University of South Florida marks a significant step forward for our Company and our SolarWindow(TM) technology," explained Mr. John A. Conklin, President & CEO of New Energy Technologies, Inc.



"The goals of this CRADA move us definitively towards product development, important to the commercialization of SolarWindow(TM)."



Under terms of the CRADA, NREL researchers will make use of the Company's exclusive intellectual property and NREL's background intellectual property in order to work towards specific product development goals, including efforts to:



Further bolster SolarWindow(TM) efficiency and transparency;

· Boost electrical power (current and voltage) output;

· Optimize the application of the active layer coatings which make it possible for SolarWindow(TM) to generate electricity on glass surfaces;

· Increase the size of the active layer in SolarWindow(TM), key to increasing the size of the final commercial product; and

· Develop improved electricity-generating coatings by enhancing performance, processing, reliability, and durability.

"We're always eager to help industry advance renewable energy breakthroughs towards commercial products. I welcome the opportunity to work with New Energy Technologies on the development of its SolarWindow(TM) technology," stated Ryne Raffaelle, director of NREL's National Center for Photovoltaics.



Solar Energy Free report ~ http://solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

Port of Morehead City Plans Rooftop Solar Array ...03.31.2011

North Carolina.The Eastern North Carolina power grid is getting a little bit sunnier, as Progress Energy has signed a contract with ESA Renewables, LLC, to build, own and operate a solar photovoltaic array at the Port of Morehead City. ESA Renewables will sell the entire output of the 800-kilowatt system to the utility for use with its customers.

“We are pleased that our portfolio of solar projects in Eastern North Carolina continues to expand,” said Lloyd Yates, president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy Carolinas. “We remain committed to responsibly pursuing renewable energy resources. Projects such as this, coupled with our aggressive energy-efficiency programs and advanced generation facilities, will provide the clean, reliable, affordable power our customers rely on us to provide.”

The Morehead City, N.C., solar PV array will be located on the roof of the Port Authority warehouse. It will be completed by the summer of 2011 and is expected to produce more than 1,125,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 700 metric tons annually.

“The Port of Morehead City rooftop project is yet another renewable energy venture in which we are proud to be an integral part,” said Jeffrey Burkett, president of ESA Renewables. “This project validates ESA’s approach to help stimulate the economy and create new local jobs. Using this green energy will mean less energy needs to be provided in the conventional way, such as with coal or natural gas -- that means success for the city, the environment and for ESA as well.”

Rep. G. K. Butterfield of North Carolina, a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, said he is encouraged by the project.

“As we work toward energy independence, this is just the kind of innovative project we need to be looking toward,” Butterfield said.

This project was proposed in response to Progress Energy Carolinas’ request for renewable energy proposals, issued in November 2008, as part of the company’s plan to meet the requirements of North Carolina’s renewable portfolio standard. Progress Energy has about 100 megawatts of renewable energy under contract in North Carolina to help meet the requirements of this law, including solar, biofuels, landfill methane and other technologies.

Solar Energy Knowledge ~ http://solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

University of Maryland Eastern Shore Activates 2.2 Megawatt Solar Farm

Maryland.


The University of Maryland Eastern Shore today celebrated the activation of a 2.2 megawatt solar-energy facility on the land-grant institution's campus.

The 7,800-panel "solar farm" occupies 17 acres and is the largest concentration of photovoltaic modules on one site in Maryland, according to university officials and SunEdison, the company that built and will operate the facility.

Located on university-owned land adjacent to Tom Nichols Road off Maryland Rt. 388 (West Post Office Road), the solar farm will enable UMES to reduce its energy bills over the next 20 years.

Attending today's activation event were UMES President Thelma B. Thompson, University System of Maryland Chancellor William E. Kirwan and local and state dignitaries.

The solar farm is projected to produce more than 3.3 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy in the first year alone. Over the two decades the panels will operate, they should produce more than 61 million kWh of energy -- roughly enough to power more than 5,700 homes for one year.

Thompson, who recently announced her plans to retire, said the solar farm is an example of UMES' commitment to developing public-private partnerships.


"UMES is proud to be on the cutting edge of setting an example in alternative energy production here on the Eastern Shore," Dr. Thompson said. "We encourage others to join us."

The solar farm was made possible through a strategic service agreement between SunEdison and UMES. SunEdison financed and built the solar farm at no cost to UMES or the state of Maryland. In return, UMES will purchase the power produced from the solar farm at long-term predictable rates to offset the university's demand from the energy grid.

Kirwan described the UMES-SunEdison partnership as mutually beneficial since the state had no upfront investment. "Perhaps most importantly, the people of Maryland will reap the enormous benefit of having literally millions of pounds of pollutants not released into the atmosphere as this power is generated," Kirwan said.

Solar Terms and concepts Free Report: http://www.solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

Positive Energy 4 MW Photovoltaic Park in Greece...03.28.2011

Capital Renewables S.A. (Capital), has awarded a contract for the supply of equipment, project design, construction and set in operation of a 4.13 MWp photovoltaic park in Greece (Prefecture of Argolida), to the EPC Contractor Positive Energy. This project constitutes a substantial investment in the photovoltaic sector for the Balkan region. The Spanish manufacturer Solaria Energía y Medio Ambiente has been appointed as the module supplier, and the park will be built using Solaria’s 2nd generation polycrystalline high yield photovoltaic panels.


The project will commence in the second quarter of 2011 and is expected to be commissioned in the fourth quarter of the same year. The operation of the plant will have substantial environmental benefits including the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 6.300 tons per year.

The Project is to be financed by EFG Eurobank Ergasias.

On behalf of Capital, Mr. Jerry Kalogiratos, CEO of the company stated: “We are very pleased to moving ahead with the first phase of our investment plan with this critical project in the field of renewable energy sources which will be developed in cooperation with one of the most reputable EPC contractors in Greece. We have a big investment plan that we are looking forward to implement in Greece through the development of strategic partnerships.”

On behalf of Positive Energy, Mr. Konstantinos Mavros, CEO of the Company, stated: “We are adding one more important project to our wide portfolio of projects we have under construction throughout Greece. We are very pleased to have been selected by a very prestigious company such as Capital Renewables for the construction of this project as it proves the quality and professionalism of our work. Positive Energy has the potential to play an important role in the healthy development of the Greek market by delivering high quality projects on time. Greece is currently one of the most dynamic and promising photovoltaic markets worldwide and a good place for foreign investors to be.”


Solar Panel knowledge: http://solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

Fast Electric Bikes - How to Build a 50MPH Electric Bike

I have to admit when I first took a look at this I was a little apprehensive, but because it has to do with conserving our energy resources it struck my curiosity and I kept coming back to it. It finally interested me enough to look further into it and going through the guide, I thought it was definitely worth passing along. I really was amazed at what this guy had done and the performance of this Electric Bike. Who would a thought?? Although not a Renewable Energy producer, talk about an energy saver - as in Fuel! For the right person this will save thousands in fuel costs throughout the year. Not to mention a fun project! Depending on where a person lives this could be transportation year round ~ either daily work commute or just plain recreational fun!



Take a look by clicking here ~~>> Electric Bike and see what it's all about!


Hooking up a small solar energy charging system for recharging would make this Electric Bike project totally self sufficient!


I know it's not the typical Renewable Energy information I usually blog about, but I hope you enjoy it. If nothing else it's interesting. Pass it along to friends and family. This could be the hobby project that turns into the money saving tool you were looking for!


This thing is Crazy Cool you have to check it out ~ Electric Bike

Basics of Solar: http://www.solarpanelsenergysystems.com/
 

KB Homes to Install Solar Systems in Ten California Communities ...03.25.2011

KB Home has launched a new initiative to provide solar power systems for its new homes as a standard feature in 10 Southern California communities.

"KB Home is already a leader in building energy-efficient homes that can provide homeowners with meaningful savings on their monthly energy bills," said Jeffrey Mezger, president and chief executive officer of KB Home. "With this announcement, we are raising the bar even higher and taking an important step in making our homes even more efficient and affordable for our homebuyers over the long term, especially when compared to resale homes."

"If consumers respond as positively as we expect to the tremendous financial and environmental advantages of these homes in the marketplace, we plan to expand this industry-leading initiative to our other markets across the country," continued Mezger.

While KB Home has provided solar power systems as an option for its homebuyers in select communities in California and Colorado for a number of years, this is the first time it will build entire communities featuring solar power systems for every home. SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB), a leading manufacturer of the highest efficiency, highest reliability solar panels and systems available today, will provide the solar technology. When combined with the many additional energy-conserving features KB Home includes in all of its new homes across the country, these 10 Southern California communities will offer some of the most efficient new homes available on the market today at an affordable price. The solar power systems could also help qualify homeowners for a federal tax credit.

"By offering solar power systems as a standard feature on their award-winning homes, KB Home is providing homebuyers a secure, reliable alternative to electricity sourced from non-renewable fossil fuels," said Jim Pape, president of SunPower's residential and commercial business group. "We are pleased to partner with KB Home as they embark on this exciting initiative to help their homeowners take control of their energy usage and reduce their electricity costs."

KB Home has already begun offering the solar power systems at its Newbury at the Enclave community in Eastvale, Manzanita at Paseo del Sol community in Temecula and Monterey at Otay Ranch community in Chula Vista. Five additional Southern California communities featuring solar power systems for every home will open over the next sixty days, and two more are expected to open in the fall of 2011.

GET READY FOR POWERFUL OPPORTUNITIES

IN A PROMISING GROWTH MARKET
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The Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region represents one of the strongest U.S. markets for current PV installations and one of the most promising for projected growth. This April, PV America 2011 will host nearly 3,000 buyers, technology experts and industry leaders at the conveniently located Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Find out more about who will be attending.

Make your plans now to—

Educate yourself and your team on the latest PV technologies and public incentives.
Innovate throughout your business by connecting with exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services and networking with colleagues.
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Leading the Way to a Brighter Future
PV America is presented by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), whose combined efforts have created a world-class, regionally focused and vertically integrated event that engages a wide spectrum of industry professionals. Unlike other PV conferences, all proceeds support the expansion of the U.S. solar energy market through SEIA's and SEPA's year-round research and education activities, as well as SEIA's advocacy efforts.

PV America thanks its 2011 Conference Session Review Committee

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SolarWorld Announces Fiscal Year 2010 Results …03.24.2011

SolarWorld Groupwide earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) grew in fiscal year 2010 by 26.1 percent and € 40.0 million to € 192.8m (2009: € 152.8m).In spite of the renewed industry-wide decline in prices, SolarWorld AG managed to keep its EBIT margin constant. It amounted to 14.8 (2009: 15.1) percent. Consolidated profits went up in 2010 by € 28.3 million, or 48.0 percent, to € 87.3m (2009: € 59.0m).

The Management Board and the Supervisory Board will propose a dividend increase to € 0.19 (2009: € 0.16) at the next Annual General Meeting.

In 2010, the group increased its shipments of wafers and solar power modules by 42 percent to 819 (2009: 578) MW and as a result considerably boosted its revenue. This went up by 28.8 percent over the previous year or by € 292.1 million to € 1,304.7m (2009: € 1,012.6m). Thus, SolarWorld AG has met its forecast of substantially exceeding the billion-euro mark in revenue.

Dr.-Ing. E.h. Frank Asbeck on the fiscal year under review: “The year 2010 was turbulent. Our sales developed vigorously in the international solar markets and, above all in the second half of the year, shifted from our core market, Germany, to other European markets and the United States.”

Consequently, the foreign sales quota in 2010 increased by 14 percentage points to 59 (2009: 45) percent.

“We aligned ourselves internationally at a very early point in time and can therefore flexibly use developments in individual markets for our purposes by simply shifting sales volumes,” says the CEO.

The group increased its production capacities along the entire value chain at its international locations in Germany, the U.S. and South Korea, all according to schedule. In the area of solar power module production, for example, the company boosted its capacities groupwide from 500 to 940 MW in 2010. All in all, the group invested € 216.1 million in intangible assets and tangible fixed assets in fiscal year 2010.

“In doing so, we succeeded in significantly undercutting the in-house investment budget through more efficient project management and better purchase terms,” explained Philipp Koecke, Chief Financial Officer of SolarWorld AG. “Moreover, in ongoing production processes, we have achieved major cost-cutting effects. In this way, we substantially strengthened our competitiveness.”

“We will do everything in our power to reduce our costs and to strengthen our quality brand. We will develop new storage technologies for the self-consumption of solar power. With these technologies, we will further strengthen our good market position,” says Dr.-Ing. E.h. Frank Asbeck.

In 2011, SolarWorld AG will continue its capacity expansion in module production to reach 1,400 (2010: 940) MW so that the group can place larger product volumes in the final customer business. On the whole, the group is expecting a growth rate in its shipments of more than 30 percent. For the United States, SolarWorld even considers it possible to more than double its sales – thanks to the logistical advantages of local production and already established sales and distribution networks. Within the next two years, the foreign quota is to be further enhanced to 75 percent. In 2011, the group wants to exceed last year’s revenue of € 1.3 billion.

Dr.-Ing. E.h. Frank Asbeck: “We make this forecast subject to the development of international background conditions, which right now nobody can predict in detail. We are in favor of a steady further development of renewable energies and want to grow organically as a company.”
Great way to start out with Solar Energy ~ Get a Free Report: http://www.solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

Hawaiian Electric and SunPower Sign Solar Power Agreement ...03.23.2011

Hawaiian Electric Company and SunPower Corporation have signed an agreement for SunPower to sell solar photovoltaic power to the utility under a fixed price contract for 20 years. The power will be generated from a five-megawatt (MW) solar farm that SunPower will design, build and operate at Kalaeloa in West Oahu.

The purchase power agreement is before the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for approval. Upon PUC and other needed approvals, SunPower plans to begin construction this year and complete the solar farm within five months. It will be located on 40 acres leased from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) at Roosevelt Avenue and Boxer Road.

"With SunPower's high-efficiency technology, Hawaiian Electric will benefit from reliable, cost-effective, guaranteed performance," said SunPower Business Unit President Jim Pape. "The solar farm will contribute clean, renewable solar power to Oahu while generating welcome revenues for the important work of the Hawaiian Homelands department on behalf of native Hawaiians."

"We welcome this agreement for another solar facility for Oahu, part of our continuing effort to get as much renewable energy on our island grid as possible," said Robbie Alm, Hawaiian Electric executive vice president. "Hawaii already leads the nation in solar watts per person, much of it generated by customer-sited roof-top PV arrays. This and other large-scale projects will increase our solar leadership and help us meet our clean energy goals."

The SunPower agreement is an outcome of Hawaiian Electric's request for proposals for renewable energy projects for Oahu issued under the PUC's competitive bidding framework in 2008.

SunPower will install high-efficiency SunPower solar panels, the most productive on the market today, on a SunPower Tracker® system. The Tracker positions solar panels to follow the sun's movement during the day, increasing sunlight capture by up to 25 percent over conventional fixed-tilt systems, while significantly reducing land requirements.

According to estimates provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the solar farm will produce enough renewable power to avoid almost 11,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, equivalent to removing 37,600 cars from Hawaii's roads over the 20-year term of the power purchase agreement.

The price per kilowatt-hour in the fixed-price, as-available contract is comparable to a similar recently completed solar facility agreement and is lower than the proposed price for the third tier of Hawaii's Feed-in Tariff.

Get into Solar - http://solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

Phoenix Solar Builds Photovoltaic System in France ...03.22.2011

Phoenix Solar signed an agreement with LHI Leasing GmbH (LHI) on the turnkey construction of a solar park in France with a peak power of around 1.7 megawatts (MWp). This makes the solar power plant the largest in the Haute-Loire department.

The solar park will be built at around 650 meters above sea level on a surface area of approximately 4.4 hectares which is about the size of six football pitches. An anticipated annual energy yield in excess of 2 million kilowatt hours can supply more than 500 French households with environmentally compatible electricity.

La Rouchouse Solar Park is the first project that Phoenix Solar has developed with a partner in the region. More solar projects with this project developer are at the preparation stage.

As general contractor, Phoenix Solar will be responsible for the planning, delivery and construction of the solar park. Construction work is due to start before the end of March, and completion has been scheduled for July. Phoenix Solar will then take over the maintenance and operation of the power plant.

As all the necessary official approvals had been secured at an early stage, electricity fed into the grid will be compensated by energy utility EDF based on the feed-in tariffs valid in 2010, which is 33.91 euro cent per kilowatt hour in this region.

"We have the greatest confidence in the abilities of Phoenix Solar AG. The company's experience of more than a decade in building large-scale photovoltaic power plants makes it the ideal partner for us. It worked very well in Germany and so we are pleased to be going to France together", stated Franz Unterbichler, head of Renewable Energies at LHI.

"We are delighted that we now have the privilege of building a large-scale photovoltaic plant for LHI in France. We made a conscious decision for the French solar market by establishing our subsidiary in Lyon, and we will be operating in this market in both the components and systems and the power plant business", commented Ulrich Reidenbach, Chief Sales Officer of Phoenix Solar AG.

Free Solar terms and concept report ~ http://solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

Providing Solar Energy to 400 Low-Income Families ...03.21.2011

Yingli Green Energy and GRID Alternatives Partner to Provide Solar Energy to 400 Low-Income Families ...03.21.2011
Oakland,
North America
United StatesCalifornia.Yingli Green Energy has formed a strategic partnership with GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit solar installer whose mission is to empower communities in need by providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training.Under the terms of the agreement, Yingli Americas will provide the largest donation in GRID Alternatives' history, and will become the organization's official solar module provider.

Combined with a network of community volunteers and green job trainees, Yingli Americas and GRID Alternatives will work together to install 1 MW of solar energy systems for 400 low-income families during 2011 using a combination of donated modules and modules purchased from Yingli at fair market value. These solar energy systems will generate $10 million worth of renewable energy over their lifespan, while eliminating 40,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the projects will provide hands-on job training opportunities in solar PV installation to thousands of individuals looking to enter the solar workforce, through direct participation in the installations.

"GRID Alternatives is grateful to Yingli for helping us make solar power available to the working families that need the savings the most, while helping build the clean energy workforce of the future. We are also proving that if solar is a viable technology for low-income families, it can work for anyone anywhere," said Erica Mackie, Executive Director and Co-Founder of GRID Alternatives. "We are thrilled to announce this partnership – which is the first of its kind in our organization's history – and commend Yingli Americas for their vision and dedication to helping disadvantaged communities in the US."

"Social responsibility is a key pillar in our mission, and we're very proud to announce this partnership with GRID Alternatives," said Robert Petrina, Managing Director of Yingli Americas. "At Yingli, we believe in making solar power an affordable option for everyone, and addressing our local underserved communities is an important step in achieving this -- we're delivering clean energy and job training where it's required most."

Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy, commented, "We have a long-standing commitment to global social responsibility and to improving the lives of our future generations. That's why we seek out collaborations such as this one with GRID Alternatives in order to make a tangible difference."

The Basice of Solar are here: http://solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

Canadian Solar to Build Third SkyPower Solar Park

Canadian Solar Inc. and SkyPower have entered into a third engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreement to build a 10.5 MW solar park in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Canadian Solar is one of the world's largest solar power companies. SkyPower is Canada's largest owner and developer of large-scale solar projects and most recently was awarded 148.3 MW through thirteen power purchase agreements by the Ontario Power Authority under the Feed-in Tariff Program.

This EPC agreement is in addition to two previous EPC agreements signed by both companies in December 2010. SkyPower closed financing with Deutsche Bank on these projects late last year. The previous 18.5 MW EPC agreement consists of a 10.5 MW solar park in Napanee, home to First Light I, (SkyPower's first solar project and Canada's first fully operational solar park). The second project is an 8.5 MW solar park located on Thunder Bay International Airport Authority land with the third being the 10.5 MW project in Thunder Bay on Fort William First Nation land.

Once fully operational, the combined total for these projects is approximately 30 MW of nameplate capacity and are expected to create hundreds of new clean energy jobs to further accelerate both the Canadian Solar EPC turn-key business and the successful completion of these SkyPower solar parks in Ontario.

"In continuing with the growth of Canadian Solar and our working partnership with SkyPower, this next collaboration strengthens our position as a leader in turnkey solution providers for utility scale and commercial systems in Ontario," said Dr. Shawn Qu, CEO and President of Canadian Solar. "We see great synergy in manufacturing the solar panels and incorporating them into an overall system design to optimize performance and value for our customers while contributing to the reduction of our carbon imprint as a by-product of our joint achievements."

The construction of all three projects is expected to reach completion by third quarter 2011. Together, they are expected to generate approximately 28 million KWh in their first full year of operation and almost 600 million kWh total over the next 20 years. This is equivalent to producing enough electricity to power almost 50,000 homes and a CO2 offset of removing almost 90,000 cars off the road over the initial 20 years of the project.

"As Canada's largest developer and owner of solar projects, we are pleased to expand our relationship with Canadian Solar and once again select them to build this important project," said Kerry Adler, President and Chief Executive Officer of SkyPower. "We look forward to the completion of these three solar projects as we continue to build out our extensive solar pipeline across the Province, which will to bring an abundance of economic, environmental and health benefits to the communities where we are actively building.

Basic Solar terms and Definitions!! Free Report!

LDK Solar Reports Financial Results Fiscal 2010 ...03.18.2011

LDK Solar reported its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2010.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 were $920.9 million, compared to $675.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2010, and $304.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.

Gross profit for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, was $251.4 million, compared to $150.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010, and $30.2 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.

Gross margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was 27.3%, compared to 22.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 and 9.9% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.

Income from operations for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was $202.5 million, compared to income from operations of $119.5 million for the third quarter of 2010, and a loss from operations of $16.1 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.

Operating margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was 22.0% compared to 17.7% in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 and negative 5.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.

Income tax expense for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was $40.5 million, compared to income tax expense of $14.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 and income tax expense of $3.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.

Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was $145.2 million, or $1.09 per diluted ADS, compared to net income of $93.4 million, or $0.72 per diluted ADS for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 and a net loss of $24.3 million, or negative $0.22 per diluted ADS for the fourth quarter of 2009. The number of shares for calculating diluted ADS was approximately 137.5 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, 136.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 and 108.5 million for the fourth of fiscal 2009.

LDK Solar ended the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 with $202.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and $503.7 million in short-term pledged bank deposits.

"Our record results for the fourth quarter capped a remarkable year and demonstrate the success of our vertical integration strategy and strong market position," stated Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO of LDK Solar. "We delivered a third consecutive quarter of record revenue as strong industry demand drove better than expected results."

"During the fourth quarter, we experienced increasing contributions from our polysilicon, module and cell businesses as we executed expansion on plan. We extended our leadership position in wafers ending the year with 3.0 GW of capacity. We signed multiple supply contracts for polysilicon, wafers and modules and further diversified our customer base. Importantly, our recent financing activities have further strengthened our balance sheet and enhanced our ability to pursue our long-term growth strategy."

"We have made great strides in positioning LDK Solar to take advantage of the growth in the global PV industry. We remain excited about the multiple growth drivers we see for our business and believe we are well positioned for success."

For the first quarter of fiscal 2011, LDK Solar estimates its revenue to be in the range of $800 million to $850 million with wafer shipments between 610 MW and 660 MW, and module shipments between 120 MW and 140 MW, in-house polysilicon production between 2,300 MT and 2,400 MT, in-house cell production between 45 MW and 50 MW and gross margin between 27% and 29%.

For fiscal 2011, LDK Solar expects revenue in the range of $3.5 to $3.7 billion, wafer shipments of 2.7 to 2.9 gigawatts (GW), module shipments of 800 MW to 900 MW, in-house polysilicon production of 10,000 MT and 11,000 MT, in-house cell production between 500 MW and 600 MW, and gross margin between 24% and 29%.

Solar panels built by you!

First Solar Selects Mesa for New Manufacturing Facility ...03.18.2011

DMB Associates, Inc. (DMB), an Arizona-based, diversified real estate investment and development firm, today announced that First Solar will acquire approximately 135 acres within the Mesa Proving Grounds project for the first phase of its next solar module fabrication plant and future expansion. The manufacturing facility will generate approximately 600 clean-tech jobs for the region in its first phase.



Construction is anticipated to begin in the second quarter of 2011 and be completed in early 2012. Approximately 400 to 500 jobs will be created during the construction of the project.



“DMB’s Mesa Proving Grounds is planned to serve as a major regional employment core,” said Eneas Kane, DMB’s President and CEO. “We are proud to welcome First Solar as Mesa Proving Grounds’ first employer. The site is an ideal match, offering a premier location at the center of the Southeast Valley with access to major transportation corridors and the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.”



First Solar considered a number of locations around the country before focusing on the Mesa Proving Grounds property. “Thanks to the work of Governor Jan Brewer, Arizona Commerce Authority Director Don Cardon, Maricopa County and Greater Phoenix Economic Council’s CEO Barry Broome, this deal came together for Mesa and for Arizona. This was a true team effort with Mayor Scott Smith leading the charge for Mesa and the East Valley, and ultimately for the state,” Kane said.



“DMB has been an invaluable partner in the effort to bring First Solar to Mesa Proving Grounds,” said Mesa Mayor Scott Smith. “This facility is a significant first step in the development of the Gateway area into a major center of economic growth, innovation and high-wage jobs.”



“It is exciting to see First Solar and DMB working to create hundreds of high-paying solar manufacturing jobs in Mesa,” said Vice Mayor Scott Somers. “Solar energy is one of many technology-based endeavors that are helping fuel the economic growth of the Power Knowledge Corridor.”



The 3,200-acre Mesa Proving Grounds site, located at the southeast corner of Elliot and Ellsworth Roads in Mesa, was acquired by DMB in 2006 and is the largest contiguous land holding in the Southeast Valley. Recognizing the importance of the development to the economic future of the East Valley, DMB conducted an extensive community outreach program soliciting community opinions and priorities as part of the planning and entitlement process. The result is a carefully conceived land plan that responds to the current and future employment, tourism and housing need

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Power-One Ships Inverters from New China Factory ...03.15.2011

United States California.Power-One has commenced shipping inverter products from its Shenzhen, China manufacturing and design facility. Production is located in the same manufacturing park as Power-One’s existing factory for its traditional power conversion products.

The new facility will have the capacity to produce 1 GW of central inverters by the end of 2011.

In late 2010, Power-One announced the launch of its central inverters specifically designed for the emerging Asian market. The 250kW and 500kW utility grade central inverters have a number of key features, including: a very high efficiency of 98.3%, longer MTBF (mean time between failures) due to being electrolytic capacitor free, compact size and weight, touch screen display, and a 1000 Voc (open circuit voltage) rating. Power-One has received China Quality Certificate (CQC) certification for sales to the Chinese market, and its new central inverters will also be manufactured to meet the demands of the rapidly growing Indian photovoltaic market.

“Asia represents a significant wind and solar growth opportunity for Power-One and we are excited that our Shenzhen facility is now shipping inverters to meet the needs of our regional customers,” said Alex Levran, President of Renewable Energy Solutions at Power-One. “The Shenzhen factory will allow us to strengthen our presence and expand our products designed for the large and growing Chinese and Indian markets.”

Large scale Solar Energy is amazing. See what you can do for your self ~ Solar Energy

Fotowatio Renewable Ventures Project …03.14.2011

March 14th, 2011 Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) has contracted with NV Energy for a 25-year power purchase agreement for the ‘Spectrum Solar’ power plant, which FRV plans to finance, develop, own and operate. NV Energy has just submitted its application for approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada [PUCN] to enter into a long-term power purchase agreement for a new 37.5 megawatt [MWdc] photovoltaic solar energy project proposed for deployment in southern Nevada. Approval by the PUCN will be a critical milestone in the continued successful development of this photovoltaic facility sited northeast of Las Vegas.

Spectrum Solar will be built in Clark County, Nevada, approximately 20 miles northeast of Las Vegas, and will be interconnected at NV Energy’s substation adjacent to the project site. The project will use solar photovoltaic technology to generate clean, emissions-free energy to meet the demand of over 7,000 homes in Clark County. Construction is slated to commence as early as 2011; the project will employ many workers during construction, and is scheduled for initial energy delivery in late 2012.

“NV Energy is visionary in its efforts to bring emissions-free solar energy into the mainstream of electricity generation. Siting this new 37.5 MWdc photovoltaic array in Southern Nevada is ideal: it will be installed at a location that offers optimal insolation, ready access to transmission, and a skilled workforce,” said FRV CEO Jose Benjumea. “This is our second contract with NV Energy, and it demonstrates NV Energy’s clear commitment to developing solid projects with credible developers in the renewable energy realm. FRV is proud of its track record of developing cost-efficient renewable projects for our clients – thanks to our conscientious, process-oriented approach to delivering clean, reliable and affordable solar energy. FRV anticipates bringing new projects like this one to utilities that are committed to making solar an increasingly mainstream energy source in the U.S. We very much look forward to working with NV Energy and the surrounding community to construct a renewable energy asset that will provide both economic and environmental benefits to the region.”

“We are pleased to be working with FRV on this project,” said NV Energy’s President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Yackira. “NV Energy is proud to be taking another step forward in utilizing Nevada’s abundant sunshine for the benefit of our customers; the addition of this significant solar project is very important to us – and the communities we serve.”

Go here - Solar Energy Systems for more information on Solar!

Passive Solar

Passive Solar

The Zion National Park Visitor Center incorporates passive solar design features, including clerestory windows for daylighting and Trombe walls that absorb heat during the day and give off heat at night.
Step outside on a hot and sunny summer day, and you'll feel the power of solar heat and light. Today, many buildings are designed to take advantage of this natural resource through the use of passive solar heating and daylighting.

The south side of a building always receives the most sunlight. Therefore, buildings designed for passive solar heating usually have large, south-facing windows. Materials that absorb and store the sun's heat can be built into the sunlit floors and walls. The floors and walls will then heat up during the day and slowly release heat at night, when the heat is needed most. This passive solar design feature is called direct gain.

Other passive solar heating design features include sunspaces and trombe walls. A sunspace (which is much like a greenhouse) is built on the south side of a building. As sunlight passes through glass or other glazing, it warms the sunspace. Proper ventilation allows the heat to circulate into the building. On the other hand, a trombe wall is a very thick, south-facing wall, which is painted black and made of a material that absorbs a lot of heat. A pane of glass or plastic glazing, installed a few inches in front of the wall, helps hold in the heat. The wall heats up slowly during the day. Then as it cools gradually during the night, it gives off its heat inside the building.

Many of the passive solar heating design features also provide daylighting. Daylighting is simply the use of natural sunlight to brighten up a building's interior. To lighten up north-facing rooms and upper levels, a clerestory—a row of windows near the peak of the roof—is often used along with an open floor plan inside that allows the light to bounce throughout the building.

Of course, too much solar heating and daylighting can be a problem during the hot summer months. Fortunately, there are many design features that help keep passive solar buildings cool in the summer. For instance, overhangs can be designed to shade windows when the sun is high in the summer. Sunspaces can be closed off from the rest of the building. And a building can be designed to use fresh-air ventilation in the summer.

More information on Solar ~ http://solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

PV Book-to-Bill in Q4'10 Remains Above Parity; Ahead of Record Revenues

Strong Solar Equipment Backlog Reflects Optimism of Tier 1 PV Producers and New Cycle of Investment in Emerging Thin-Film Technologies
San Francisco, Calif., March 10, 2011—In Q4’10 (ending December 31, 2010), the PV Book-to-Bill posted a three-month average of 1.10, according to the PV Book-to-Bill analysis featured in the Solarbuzz® PV Equipment Quarterly report. Across the entire year, the 12-month average in 2010 reached 1.27 compared to 0.97 for 2009.

According to Finlay Colville, Senior Analyst at Solarbuzz, “The latest PV Book-to-Bill figures reflect the ongoing investments across both c-Si and thin-film segments, which are driving strong capacity expansions planned for 2011. Tier 1 c-Si manufacturers are expanding to reach vertically-integrated GW+ status on the back of still strong order books. Conversely, investments into a-Si/uc-Si and CIGS thin-film technologies represent the continued push by new entrants to find low-cost alternatives to First Solar’s exclusive challenge to c-Si dominance in the market today.”

Working closely with the PV equipment supply-chain, the Solarbuzz PV Book-to-Bill analysis maps out quarterly spending profiles by all PV manufacturers with the relevant bookings and revenues assigned to the appropriate process tool manufacturers.

The Book-to-Bill ratio compares the total amount of orders received to the total amount of product shipped and billed within a given period. It is the ratio of demand to supply in the equipment supply chain. A PV Book-to-Bill ratio of 1.10 for Q4’10 means that US$110 of orders was received by PV equipment suppliers for every US$100 of product shipped.

The consolidated PV Book-to-Bill analysis yields an averaged figure based on industry-wide equipment investments across established and emerging technologies. However, tier 1 cell manufacturer trends can be a more appropriate leading indicator to assess the impact of production equipment used to meet end-market PV demand.

Colville added, “Tier 1 designated c-Si cell and thin-film panel producers satisfied 75% of PV demand during 2010. Equipment supply to this crucial midstream solar cell manufacturing segment highlights the portion of overall PV capacity expansion that is most likely to drive the level and timing of any panel oversupply during 2H’11.”

For the tier 1 segment, the PV Book-to-Bill ratio was higher at 1.39 during Q4’10, with a 12-month average of 1.26. Early indications are that this segment’s Book-to-Bill ratio will dip below parity during Q2’11. This would represent the first sign of capacity expansion slowdown by leading PV producers and the beginning of a downturn in revenues on offer to leading PV equipment suppliers through 2H’11 and 1H’12.

Figure 1: Consolidated PV Book-to-Bill at the End of Q4’10



Source: Solarbuzz PV Equipment Quarterly

PV Book-to-Bill Updated Quarterly

Photovoltaic capital equipment spending trends can now be tracked clearly by the PV Book-to-Bill, featured within the Solarbuzz PV Equipment Quarterly report. Added in November 2010, this analysis provides key performance indicators that track quarterly changes in the order books of the global equipment supply chain. The trends across the various Book-to-Bill metrics capture the overall health of PV manufacturing and offer a means of forecasting the size and timing of announced capacity expansion phases. The PV Book-to-Bill figures are updated quarterly, and include data relating to the preceding three-month period. In addition to releasing consolidated updates each quarter, detailed findings will be featured within forthcoming editions of the Solarbuzz PV Equipment Quarterly report, with the next release due out April 2011. Analysis will also be provided on an ad-hoc basis in support of Solarbuzz PV equipment reporting throughout the year, to better understand key developments and trends impacting strongly on the PV equipment supply chain.

To learn more about the PV Book-to-Bill data or the Solarbuzz PV Equipment Quarterly report, contact us at our seven global locations, email us at contact@solarbuzz.com, or call 1.516.625.2452..

About Solarbuzz
Solarbuzz, part of The NPD Group, is a globally recognized market research business focused on solar energy and photovoltaic industries. Since 2001, Solarbuzz has grown its client-base to include many of the largest global PV manufacturers, major investment banks, equipment manufacturers, materials suppliers, hedge fund companies, and a vast range of other multi-nationals. Solarbuzz offers a wide array of reports, including Marketbuzz®, an annual global PV industry report, and Solarbuzz® Quarterly, which details both historical and forecast data on the global PV supply chain. The company’s research also provides annual downstream PV market reports by region for Europe , Asia Pacific and US markets. In addition, Solarbuzz.com is a recognized and respected online resource within the solar industry. For more information, visit solarbuzz.com or follow us on Twitter at @Solarbuzz.

About The NPD Group, Inc.
The NPD Group is the leading provider of reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,800 manufacturers, retailers, and service companies rely on NPD to help them drive critical business decisions at the global, national, and local market levels. NPD helps our clients to identify new business opportunities and guide product development, marketing, sales, merchandising, and other functions. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, foodservice, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys, and wireless.

For more information http://solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

Evergreen Solar Reports Audited 4th Quarter Financial Results ...03.10.2011

Evergreen Solar yesterday announced audited financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2010.

Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2010 were $89.3 million, up 3.2% sequentially compared to third quarter revenues of $86.5 million. Average selling price for the fourth quarter of 2010 was $1.90 per watt, down approximately 6% from $2.02 per watt recorded in the third quarter of 2010.

Gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2010 was -84% compared to 7.5% in the third quarter of 2010. The decrease in gross margin resulted primarily from the write-down of prepaid inventory resulting from the decision to close the Devens manufacturing facility and the countervailing duties assessed on the Company's imported aluminum frames, as previously disclosed.

Operating loss for the fourth quarter of 2010 was $399.1 million, compared to $22.7 million for the third quarter of 2010. Operating loss in the fourth quarter of 2010 increased sequentially from the third quarter due mainly to the inventory write-down and the impairment of long-lived assets totaling $377.5 million in connection with the Solar Company's decision to close its Devens manufacturing facility. Operating loss for the third quarter of 2010 included a $6.4 million charge relating to the write-off of a receivable associated with a Korean customer and a decrease in royalty revenue, offset by a decrease in manufacturing costs.

Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2010 was $411.0 million compared to $27.2 million in the third quarter of 2010. Net loss for the fourth quarter includes the aforementioned write-down and impairment charges of $377.5 million. Net loss for the third quarter of 2010 included the previously disclosed charge to accounts receivable and foreign exchange gains of $6.3 million.

Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2010 was $68.4 million, including restricted cash of $6.8 million.

Michael El-Hillow, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, "The decision to close the Devens facility was the direct result of rapid and dramatic changes in the underlying market that have taken place since the facility first began operations. We believe we are now better positioned to facilitate a rapid transition to a strategic supplier of low cost multi-crystalline silicon wafers by virtue of our proprietary wafer technology." He added, "Our Devens employees exceeded many of management's expectations and for this, they have our deepest appreciation."

Mr. El-Hillow concluded by sharing his views about the opportunities in Evergreen Solar's future. "Today, we are focusing all of our energies and resources in delivering an industry standard size and high performance low cost wafer. We believe this is the best strategic direction for the Company as we leverage our proprietary manufacturing and product technology to produce String Ribbon(TM) wafers at a total silicon and non-silicon cost of about $0.25 per watt in 2013. We are encouraged by the early feedback received from companies that have been sampling our industry standard size wafers. Pilot line production up to 25 megawatts should be on-line in China toward the end of this year. In-depth negotiations to obtain significant financing for expansion and customer support for our industry standard wafer are attracting very strong interest and we are expecting to have more details to share on our progress by early summer."

Solar Energy Basics

SunPower Signs Supply Agreement with Toshiba ...03.09.2011

San Jose, California.

SunPower Corporation announced today that, under a strategic supply agreement, Toshiba Corporation will order 48 megawatts of high-efficiency solar panels from SunPower during the 2011 Japanese fiscal year ending March 31, 2012. Toshiba will use the panels to support the company's residential solar offering in Japan, which was launched last year with a supply agreement for 32 megawatts of SunPower panels.

"Japan is the leader in Asia in the residential solar market, which is an excellent fit for SunPower's world-leading, high efficiency solar panels," said SunPower CEO Tom Werner. "We are pleased to extend our partnership with Toshiba, a global business leader, to make high-efficiency SunPower panels available to more homeowners in Japan who value our reliability and guaranteed performance."

"Since we launched our residential solar business in Japan early last year, we have recorded solid achievements by implementing comprehensive sales and marketing activities, including expansion of sales channels," said Takeshi Yokota, general manager of Photovoltaic Systems Division, Toshiba Corporation. "We look forward to building on this success and increasing market share in Japan by further reinforcing our partnership with SunPower."

Further details about Solar Energy!

Q-Cells SE Signs Solar Cell Agreement with SunPower ...03.08.2011

San Francisco, California
Q-Cells North America has signed an 83- megawatt solar cell supply agreement with SunPower Corporation.

Q-Cells solar technology will be used in select commercial and utility scale solar projects.

“SunPower has a history of delivering highly-efficient, highly reliable solar systems, and Q-Cells solar cells align well with our panel manufacturing operations,” said Howard Wenger, president, utility and power plants, SunPower Corporation.

“Since 2005, the solar industry has grown more than 60 percent per annum and is expected to expand up to 34 gigawatts by 2015, according to industry experts,” said Marc van Gerven, CEO of Q-Cells North America. “Q-Cells helps to define the Solar industry’s standards for quality and reliability and this agreement gives us the unique opportunity to address this growing global demand.”

Go Solar ~ Free report!

Solaria Energia Announces 2010 Financial Results ...03.07.2011

Madrid, Spain

Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente has released its financial results for the full year of 2010. Solaria Energía y Medio Ambiente designs, manufactures, installs and distributes photovoltaic and thermal solutions.

In 2010, Solaria sales figures reached over 161.3 million Euros, which represents 271% increased compared to the same period of 2009, 81% more including non-recurring sales of two plants built in 2008.

One of the most significant facts derived from the figures reported is related to the company’s internationalization ratio which has significantly increased to the 77% of the company’s sales, confirming the business model adopted by Solaria in the last year. While the domestic sector showed a lack of opportunities, Solaria decided to grow into international markets counting its presence now in Germany, Italy, France, UK, Czech Republic, Greece and Latin-America.

By division, the sales mix in 2010 was 67% in PV modules, 24% in projects and 9% in generation, operation and maintenance.

According to the balance sheet figures, Solaria registered €18 million Ebidta, a 44% increase compared to 2009. On the other hand, EBIT stands at €8.9 million while the net profit is €6.5 million, a 166% higher than in 2009.

As part of the results presented, in May 2010 the temporal workforce restructuring schemes were cancelled in the Puertollano and Fuenmayor factories, and all the employees have resumed their normal work, reaching the number of 900 total employees.

Solaria current has a pipeline of projects over 200 MW as a consequence of its presence and development at the international level.

At present, offers for the two plants in which Solaria participates in a 50% in Italy are being received and is expected to be sold in the course of 2011 fiscal year. In addition, two new projects have started: a 3 MW plant in Brazil and the construction of a new plant of 8.5 MW in Italy.

Lastly, in recent months the company’s access to project finance has considerably improved, financing six plants under different structures. The Solar company expects to close additional finance agreements in 2011.
Solaria will continue in 2011 the already started internationalization process, increasing its presence in those markets in which is already operating and entering new markets on the American continent, United Kingdom and Israel.

Basics of Solar Energy!

Earths Energy ~ Solar And Wind benifits.

Each year, more and more promote renewable energies.
Well you may not be asked to appear on your local news station, but you can still do your part by investing in the use of the earths solar and wind power that is readily available.
With solar and wind energy for your home or place of residence can be very useful.
Let me explain.
Solar panels use the solar energy to generate electricity for the house, which saves money on electricity bills.
Any excess electricity that is generated can be stored in batteries for later use or sold back to your electric company (some credit your bill).
Once started, the solar cells can not generate electricity to power outages to worry, because the plates do not need any other fuel work as the sun.
Solar energy does not give off any emissions either, so not only is it a renewable fuel, it is a clean fuel also.
With a second home or an apartment at a distance? Use solar energy offer electricity and hot water.
There are DIY products on the market that can teach you how to do that.
Solar panels are a good choice if you are in an area such as development or live there is a lack of wind el wind energy would be neither effective.
But if you are in a more rural area and it seems like the wind blows all the time, then a wind turbine would be an added benefit to help cut your dependency on electricity.
A wind turbine is very similar to solar panels, generating electricity that can be used immediately or stored for later use.
And any excess electricity can be credited to your bill or sold back to the electric company.
Both solar, & Wind energy is a clean fuel that is renewable and does not need to pursue other fuels.

What's your next step? Start by doing some research and find the minimum requirements needed and see if your residence is a candidate for solar or wind power or maybe a combination of both.

So, whether you consider yourself a handy person or not, you can learn, and you can build them yourself.
You can use one of the many guides available that are available at a very reasonable price go to purchase.
Some of these guides are teaching homeowners how to build solar panels and wind turbines for less than $200 and from materials that you can buy at your local hardware store.
Thousands of homeowners have decided to use the land resources of renewable energy to their advantage and are now saving money each month on your electricity bill, but they also help to preserve our planet.

Solar Energy resources

Solar Energy Sources & ideas!

Solar energy, renewable energy, is one of the sources available on Earth.


However, it needs to be enhanced by storage or another energy source.
Although solar systems still have a low average efficiency, thanks to modern technology is to understand the development of high efficiency, low-cost systems provide daily.

Using solar energy is beneficial because it allows a more environmentally friendly or a "greener" way of living.
It a resource freely available, and installed one of its many advantages such as once and does not cost more than the cost of creating and maintaining routine.

A direct use of solar energy technology includes use of photovoltaic technology, a system that is aimed at small and home appliances.

Solar Power Information

It is important to know of some information about solar power before purchasing it.
The definition of solar energy is " ; energy systems that generate energy directly from sunlight " ;.
It is the conversion of sunlight to electricity.
Most of our energy resources are, however indirect forms of solar energy.
Without the sun, the wind would not blow.
In addition, the sun causes the evaporation of water collected after condensation of water in rivers.
This water is used for hydro electrical power.
Moreover, bio-fuels cannot exist without the sun as well.
If you were to go into more depth but also allows the sun of life, which in turn would fossil fuels.
An essential fact about solar energy is that it is a renewable source of energy as sunlight could be used any time.
Photovoltaics are used to power small to medium sized equipment such as calculators to off-grid homes.

CSP provides two methods: The first method is to simply cook water, which is then used to supply electricity, the second method is complicated and requires technologies like the dishes that use a pound of Motor Cycle Engine to a pound power generator.

Another detail to keep in mind that even though installation of solar power an be costly, this cost has decreased significantly over the past couple of years making it affordable for almost everyone - especially when you build the solar panels yourself!

In addition, small solar applications replace, other sources in the Third World.

Solar Power Technology
Due to the rapid improvement in solar technology lately many homes are solely dependent on solar power globally.

This raises the question of how solar energy is used
It is claimed that most solar systems can collect heat created by sunlight striking an object.
An example of this is simply to focus light with mirrors or lenses, generate enough heat to light a fire.
This indirect method of producing solar power is known as "Concentrating Solar Power" (CSP).
As briefly mentioned above, use the CSP systems, the simple technology of lenses or mirrors and tracking systems on a large area of sunlight into a small bundle Focus.
The consequential heat is then used as the heat source for a conventional power plant.
In all concentrating solar power systems a working fluid is heated by the concentrated sunlight.
It then used to generate electricity or to store energy.
Furthermore, it is important to provide the continuous availability of energy since solar energy is not available during the night.
Since solar power is an intermittent energy source, all available energy should be provided, if any, stored, transported or through pipes that can be used.
In storage solar energy is stored at high temperatures using molten salts.
These molten salts have a low-cost, high specific heat capacity and can deliver heat at temperatures compatible with the traditional systems of power.
This expertise helps increase efficiency of the system.
A direct method of solar technology includes "; " photoelectric effect ;.
It was in 1839 that Edmund Becquerel discovered the technique of producing an electric current in a solid material using sunlight.
The Photoelectric Effect uses the simple method of reflecting, absorbing or direct pass of light.
But only the absorbed light, which actually generates electricity.

It is also important to remember that devices powered by solar energy have definitely changed for the better over the last ten years, and will continue to do so.

Keep in mind that solar energy systems are even suitable in regions without a lot of available sunlight like a trickle charger charging the Battery Pack.


More info ~ Go Green ~ Solar Energy

Siemens Receives Follow-Up Order for Photovoltaic Plants in Central Italy ...03.04.2011

Erlangen, Germany
Siemens Energy has received a follow-up order for the turnkey construction of eight photovoltaic plants in Italy. The solar power plants will be erected in the Marche and Abruzzo regions, between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine Mountains. The customer is Viridis Energia, a joint venture between Echidna S.p.A. and La.G.I. S.r.l. After completion in spring 2011 the combined rating of 14 megawatts peak (MWp) will provide about 5,000 households in Italy with environmentally friendly power.


As the EPC contractor, Siemens is responsible for the turnkey construction, engineering and project management of the photovoltaic plants. The scope of supply includes the full range of Siemens components, such as inverters, medium-voltage equipment as well as monitoring systems. Siemens already received an order for the construction of another 3 MWp photovoltaic plants located in the Marche region from the same customer.

“In the last fiscal, Siemens received orders for photovoltaic plants with a combined capacity of more than 30 MW from Italy,” said René Umlauft, CEO of the Renewable Energy Division. “The Italian market is one of the key large-scale PV markets in Europe. This year the market will continue to grow significantly and we want to participate in this growth."

Photovoltaic plants are part of Siemens’ Environmental Portfolio. In fiscal 2010, revenue from the Portfolio totaled about EUR28 billion.

Solar is the way!

Uses of Solar Energy ..

Residential
The number of PV installations on buildings connected to the electricity grid has grown in recent years. Government subsidy programs (particularly in Germany and Japan) and green pricing policies of utilities or electricity service providers have stimulated demand. Demand is also driven by the desire of individuals or companies to obtain their electricity from a clean, non-polluting, renewable source. These consumers are usually willing to pay only a small premium for renewable energy. Increasingly, the incentive is an attractive financial return on the investment through the sale of solar electricity at premium feed-in tariff rates.

In solar systems connected to the electricity grid, the PV system supplies electricity to the building, and any daytime excess may be exported to the grid. Batteries are not required because the grid supplies any extra demand. However, to be independent of the grid supply, battery storage is needed to provide power at night.
Holiday or vacation homes without access to the electricity grid can use solar systems more cost-effectively than if the grid was extended to reach the location. Remote homes in sunny locations can obtain reliable electricity to meet basic needs with a simple system comprising of a PV panel, a rechargeable battery to store the energy captured during daylight hours, a regulator (or charge controller), and the necessary wiring and switches. Such systems are often called solar home systems (SHS).

Commercial

On an office building, roof areas can be covered with glass PV modules, which can be semi-transparent to provide shaded light. On a factory or warehouse, large roof areas are the best location for solar modules. If the roof is flat, then arrays can be mounted using techniques that do not breach the weatherproofed roof membrane. Also, skylights can be partially covered with PV.

The vertical walls of office buildings provide several opportunities for PV incorporation, as well as sunshades or balconies incorporating a PV system. Sunshades may have the PV system mounted externally to the building, or have PV cells specially mounted between glass sheets comprising the window.

Industrial

For many years, solar energy has been the power supply choice for industrial applications, especially where power is required at remote locations. Because solar systems are highly reliable and require little maintenance, they are ideal in distant or isolated places.
Solar energy is also frequently used for transportation signaling, such as offshore navigation buoys, lighthouses, aircraft warning light structures, and increasingly in road traffic warning signals. Solar is used to power environmental monitoring equipment and corrosion protection systems for pipelines, well-heads, bridges, and other structures. For larger electrical loads, it can be cost-effective to configure a hybrid power system that links the PV with a small diesel generator.

Remote Applications

Remote buildings, such as schools, community halls, and clinics, can benefit from solar energy. In developing regions, central power plants can provide electricity to homes via a local wired network, or act as a battery charging station where members of the community can bring batteries to be recharged.
PV systems can be used to pump water in remote areas as part of a portable water supply system. Specialized solar water pumps are designed for submersible use or to float on open water. Large-scale desalination plants can also be PV powered using an array of PV modules with battery storage.
PV systems are sometimes best configured with a small diesel generator in order to meet heavy power requirements in off-grid locations. With a small diesel generator, the PV system does not have to be sized to cope with the worst sunlight conditions during the year. The diesel generator can provide back-up power that is minimized during the sunniest part of the year by the PV system. This keeps fuel and maintenance costs low.

Solar Energy ~ Build the Panels yourself!

LADWP and SolarWorld Partner to Develop 11.6 MW Solar Power System ...03.02.2011

Los Angeles, California

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has joined forces with SolarWorld to develop an 11.6-megawatt (MW) DC solar system.

The project pairs the nation’s largest municipal utility with the largest and most experienced U.S. manufacturer of crystalline solar power technology. LADWP will install, own and operate the system while SolarWorld will supply complete system engineering and the solar panels and procure balance-of-system components, including advanced SMA America inverters to convert power from the system to 10 MW AC power for transmission to Los Angeles.

Work on the project commenced in February at the LADWP’s existing high-desert Adelanto Switching and Convertor Station, after the Board of Water and Power Commissioners approved the project agreement in December 2010. Preliminary designs for the project have been delivered, soil testing has concluded and detailed engineering at Adelanto is now under way.

Aside from supplying 46,322 250-watt SolarWorld Sunmodules, the company will tap project engineering expertise of SolarWorld specialists in the company's Camarillo operations, which have pioneered solar technology since 1975.

The Adelanto project is expected to produce 22,400 megawatt-hours (MWH) during its first year and 515,700 MWH over a 25-year period. The system will feature several innovative design elements, including interconnection into a critical bulk-grid substation as well as a more efficient, leading-edge 1,000-volt solar power system. Further, the system will incorporate SolarWorld Sunfix ground-mount systems featuring flexible aluminum structures to minimize site-preparation costs.

“The technical features of Adelanto are advanced, and the design requirements are more sophisticated than typical systems of this size,” said Raju Yenamandra, U.S. vice president of sales and a 30-year veteran of SolarWorld’s plant in Camarillo. “But having built the world’s first 1 MW system in California in 1981 and adapted many system types since then, we look forward to once again demonstrating our project-engineering ingenuity.”

The Adelanto solar array will be built on a 42-acre site about 65 miles north of Los Angeles in the town of Adelanto, Calif. The station there serves as the southern terminus of LADWP’s Southern Transmission System, which links Southern California with renewable energy wind farms and the existing Intermountain Power Project in Utah.

The Adelanto project is one of three LADWP renewable energy projects to be financed by federal Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds. The bonds, offered through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, save LADWP customers money by subsidizing loan interest costs.

Going Solar is just the beginning!

ArcelorMittal and OPDE to Co-operate on PV Projects ...03.01.2011

Madrid, Spain.
ArcelorMittal Construcción España, a branch of iron and steel company and the Spanish solar photovoltaic company, Group OPDE, have signed a commercial agreement to develop the photovoltaic industrial buildings roof top market and also for car parks.ArcelorMittal Construcción España already has three different solutions for roof-top photovoltaic installations in industrial buildings, canopies and fixed structures (Kalipso SP, Kalipso light, Eklips SP y Kassiope).



With this agreement PROINSO, a part of the Grupo OPDE, is supplementing its catalogue of solutions for this photovoltaic sector and provides its Network of 1,272 qualified installers in 48 countries.

The agreement establishes for international photovoltaic projects which are the result of the commercial arrangements by ArcelorMittal Construcción España, the metal and steel company will bank on OPDE as the first option when the project is turnkey.

Similarly ArcelorMittal Construcción España will offer its customers with new industrial buildings, the option that OPDE can rent their photovoltaic roof-top to develop, promote, construct and finance photovoltaic projects.

The third line of the agreement includes the collaboration with the Network of Qualified installers of PROINSO in solar energy projects to be developed commercially in Spain by ArcelorMittal Construcción España and which are not turnkey (EPC).

Be Bold, Be Green!