Solar Panels Energy System

How Do The Benefits Out Weigh Solar Panel Cost?

2011-07-27T15:24:00.000-07:00

The environment has become an increasing concern for everyone. It's not something that's just going to go away, it's an issue that will take everyone making changes small and large alike to get our environment back on the right track. There are many things people can do, they can recycle, reuse, and make smart choices with what they purchase. This comes in the form of considering solar panel cost.

What Are The Financial Benefits Of Solar Energy

The best thing about solar energy is that it's free. Once the system is installed it's an investment that will be able to pay for itself, and even make the homeowner cash in the long run. For years people have been saying it's wise to make investments into one's home. This should start with thinking about energy efficiency, whether that means having proper insulation, good windows and other ways to keep heating and cooling where it's meant to be, or larger, more usable options. This may mean figuring out what's the real solar panel cost. When it comes to thinking about this, it's vital to understand the only real cost is the initial installation. This will quickly be recovered in the savings that will be gleaned with monthly bills. There will be an immediate decrease in the cost of electricity or energy bills monthly, often times it can even mean no more bills at all. When installed properly it may also mean the home owner may be able to sell energy back to the big companies, therefore giving them money in their pocket, making it the wisest investment a person may every make in their home.

Besides Saving Money...

Sure solar panel cost can quickly be outweighed with what is brought back into the budget financially, but they are also vital for the environment. There is a real problem with the way fossil fuels are being used up so quickly. Turning to alternate energy sources is the best thing a homeowner can do to be responsible not only to their own budget but to the environment. This is an energy source that is renewable, clean and pollution free. They can be easily installed, often come with excellent warranties and provide many ways to allow a person also be able to make money. There are often referral programs that allow a person incentive for recommending this fantastic resource to their friends or family.

In addition to being good for a home owner's budget and for the environment, solar panel cost should be outweighed against the benefits it can bring to the economy, both local and national. America often has to get energy from foreign governments. This puts our money to use in other nation's pockets. Bring the money home and make more jobs in America by getting on board with installing quality solar panels. With this bit of consideration it's easy to realize that the solar panel cost will quickly be gained back with all the money that will be saved for energy costs.2

JB Solar offers Solar Panels, solar kits, wholesale solar panels and solar inverters for residential and commercial installation. For details visit http://www.jbsolarcorp.com

Buying Solar Panels: 3 Money-Saving Secrets

2011-07-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

Everyone's starting to jump onto the bandwagon of using solar energy because it is believed to be the answer to the worsening energy crisis worldwide. But don't you think every thinking person must dig deeper first and know whether there are possible dangers in using these panels? Or at least be aware of the possible negative aspects of purchasing them? In this article, let us explore the possible drawbacks of patronizing this innovation. After all, buying solar panels is not like buying light bulbs.

1) Materials- Newer thin solar panels are made from materials which are harmful to the environment. Although they will not create any problem until you dispose the system (which is probably in the next two decades or so), it is imperative that you know they can cause trouble to the planet you are trying to save. Currently, new disposal and even recycling methods are being developed. Hopefully, these methods would become feasible by the time you need to dispose your solar panels.

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2) Latest Technology- Many solar energy companies continuously do research on how they can improve or develop new products and systems. The research for renewable energy has actually become a big industry worldwide and new discoveries are being made at regular intervals. The thing is, not all products under experiments make it to the market. Some of them have huge market potentials but never really make it to the hands of the consumers. Just like other products going through research and development, solar panels using latest technologies sometimes do not work as expected. At times, they are just too expensive to produce. It is always some sort of a gamble to wait for breakthroughs. If you like to save the best for last, you may be waiting in vain. You should know when enough is enough.

3) Old Technology-Now, although waiting for the latest technology could not always be the best idea, it is also a big loss if you buy old technology. Meaning, since you don't want to wait any longer for the new breakthrough, you will just go for the cheaper technology available; thinking the idea is better when in fact, it is not. You may just spend thousands of dollars to buy solar panels which technology is almost obsolete.

Now, if you want to prevent this misfortune from happening to you, you must do your part to become a wise spender. Buying solar panels is not like buying light bulbs. They are much costlier and you really have to invest big in them. To make sure that you are getting ones which are worth your money, do your research. Use the internet, or better yet, hit the library. Business journals are available where product forecasts are published. These journals can give you an idea of what's to come and whether they are worth the wait. If not, you can always decide to go for what's currently available. Just make sure you pick the system which has been tested for sometime so even if the technology is relatively old, you know they truly work.

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buying solar panels

How Solar Panels Can Power Your Home

2011-07-25T22:15:00.000-07:00

There are many ways to power your home with solar panels and solar power kits. These systems can fit nearly any size home, demand, and space requirement. In this article we will discuss three different kinds of photovoltaic (PV) systems and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Off-Grid Solar Dependent Systems

These systems are usually found in extremely remote locations where electricity and fuel sources are hard to come by. These systems consist of:

* Solar panel array: a combination of solar panels that are sized according to the cabin's electrical consumption. The higher the consumption of electricity, the larger and more expensive the array must be.

* Charge controller: this takes energy from the solar array and feeds it into the battery bank, while ensuring that the batteries are not over-charged (which would damage the batteries).

* Battery bank: this is specially designed to fit both the solar array and the needs of the home. For instance you might need a larger battery bank if the area you are in experiences frequent cloudy days. The battery bank would have to store several days worth of energy to account for lack of sunshine.

* Inverter: the solar panels and batteries produce DC power and most appliances require AC power. The inverter does the job of turning the DC power into AC power for your home.

Advantages

* These systems are great for remote cabins, cottages and villages. They allow people to live in areas where they would not normally be able to live. They also provide power to third world villages that would probably never have power otherwise.

* There is relatively little maintenance of this systems. The batteries will require the most attention and will have to be replaced before anything else.

* The cost of these systems, while not cheap, easily beat the costs of constructing a power line to remote areas 9 times out of 10.

Disadvantages

* There is no means of getting back up power should the system go down due to weather or malfunction.

Hybrid Solar-Generator Systems

Most often, off-grid solar installation are supplemented with a backup generator. This system has the same components, with the addition of these things:

* Generator: often powered by gas, oil, or propane, these units are essentially a combustion engine that turns an electric generator. This generates DC power that is fed into charge controller in the same fashion as PV power.

* Wind generator: these systems are gaining popularity for their ease of use, low maintenance, and low initial cost. They can be wired directly to the batteries in many cases as most of them have an internal charge controller. Some even have built in inverters so they can be tied into grid-tied homes directly.

* Micro-hydro: great for homes near flowing water, these systems have come a long way in the last few years. They can be tricky to install, as they consist of a turbine that is mounted in a river or stream. The water turns the turbine and generates electricity, which is fed into the charge controller.

Advantages

* These systems are ideal for off-grid, remote locations. They can be designed for varying weather conditions and consumption, and the homeowner has the added peace of mind knowing that there is a backup generator in case the sun doesn't shine.

Disadvantages

* These systems require a reliable secondary fuel source, whether it be propane or wind. Often these things are hard to come by in remote areas.

* The increased complexity of the system can often make installation difficult.

* Maintenance is heavier on these systems since they usually involve gassing and oiling a combustion engine.

Grid-Tied Solar Systems

This by far the most popular PV system. Since the vast majority of homes in the US are connected to the electrical grid, this system probably makes the most sense for homeowners. The system can have batteries, but most often consists of the panel array, inverter, and several breakers and disconnects. The homeowner must also be aware of these items:

* Interconnection Agreement: this is a legal document from the power utility outlining the details of your grid-tied system. This will tell you how to tie it in and when they will inspect it.

* Net Metering: this allows you to sell your excess power back to the utility.

Advantages

* These systems are far simpler and easier to install than off-grid applications.

* The grid acts as the battery, so if the solar array goes down or the sun is down the grid will keep the lights on.

* The cost for these systems is lower since the batteries and charge controllers are not necessary.

* Excess power can be sold to the utility to offset the cost of the system.

* Utilities often have rebates and incentives for homeowners installing PV systems which can offset the cost of the system.

Disadvantages

* Obviously this is not an option for people that don't have an electrical grid nearby.

For more information on solar power kits and solar panels, visit our website.

Kriss Bergethon is a solar expert and writer. For more of his useful articles on solar power, please visit Solar Panels, Kits and Systems.

Solar Panel Criteria you need to Remember

2011-07-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

Making the switch to renewable energy by installing solar panels is probably one of the biggest home improvement decisions you will make. If done correctly it will add a lot of value to your home and enable you produce most of your own electricity, but it is an important decision concerning a reasonable amount of money so you definitely want to do your homework 1st to make the most out of every cent that you spent.

Warranty

Like any other products solar panels should come with a warranty, and an extensive one at that; normally the panels themselves come with 25 years of warranty, but be aware that there are other components which are more likely to break down and aren't necessarily included. The warranty should not only be a piece of card that comes with the product it should abide by the Australian Consumer Protection Law, go to the Clean Energy Council Website for more details and a list of approved products.

Manufacturer

With the solar industry booming there arehas been a great increase in manufacturers; remember your warranty (above) will come from them, not your retailer, so look for well established companies with offices in your country. You can have a great idea of a company from the various online solar forums available. You can also have a good idea of what the company is like from their customer support. Quality products often times are supported by quality customer care.

Efficiency and cost

The panel's efficiency should be reasonable for its cost, with a pay-back time of 4-7 years standard at the moment. Efficiency varies depending on the brand, the being matching with suitable components of equally high quality, the overall system design and the installation. But for it to be cost effective it must deliver enough electricity into your meter box every day; buy the largest KWh size you can fit onto your available roof space, the cost is proportionally much lower and the return on investment from the amount of electricity you can generate will be much greater.

Panel specifications

Various technological advances have been developed in recent years, mono crystalline, multi crystalline and thin films were invented to improve the system. Be sure to have an idea what are advantages and drawbacks of each and decide from there which suits you the most.

Also don't forget the Inverter; this is a crucial part of how much electricity your system can generate, so get the best quality one you can afford.

Installation Quality

Having your solar panel system installed in the best location and at the correct angle will make a big difference to its efficiency; only trust accredited installers with a good reputation.

Do a visual inspection of the actual panels afterwards, normally the edges are lined and/or sealed by aluminum scaffoldings. It should perfectly fit the edges and no seams should be visible since it serves as one of the primary protectors of the solar panels from wear and tear.

Aside from that, the back side of the panels should also be covered by high grade plastic materials to protect the solar cells from dust and other damaging factors.

Keep them clean from dust and debris for the best output, even a small coating of dirt will greatly affect the amount of sunlight energy they can absorb.

Premier Solar is committed to being Australia's leading Solar Power & Renewable Energy solutions provider for both homes and medium to large scale commercial solar projects. We are specialists in effective and affordable solar PV panel System design and use only fully certified installers and product components which pass all government standards and certifications, to enable our customers to access full discounts and rebates, as well enjoy the peace of mind of 25 year warranties from long established manufacturers.

Queensland Solar Panel Installation Incentive Scheme

2011-07-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

The Queensland government is committed in reducing the states carbon footprint by one-third by the year 2020. They aim to accelerate the installation and generation of electricity by using clean energy sources and follow the Queensland Renewable Energy Plan. The federal government is also giving out financial incentives for the installation of roof-top solar panels through the Small-scale renewable energy scheme (SRES).

With this scheme, the projected electricity production capacity of a roof-top solar panel system is eligible for a certain number of small scale technology certificates (STCs), which are timed by the solar multiplier number. This is being reduced from July 1st from 5 down to 3 which represents about a $2500 increase in the out of pocket cost of a solar panel system. The multiplier will reduce by 1 each year until 2014 when the scheme will end.

The Renewable Energy Plan will provide a series of financial incentives that will help make the switch to renewable energy financially viable for an average family. This incentive can be taken advantage by any Queensland home owners. There also is another incentive given by the Queensland (QLD) government, which is the solar hot water rebate. QLD homeowners will be provided with up to $1,000 to be invested as an initial fund for the installation of the solar hot water system. This rebate should cover the installation of over 200,000 hot water systems in the next three years.

Queensland has the highest solar energy production of any area in Australia, thanks both the strong government support & favourable climate. There are currently about 15 to 24 Mega joules of soalr energy per square meter under production. Thanks to a commercial feed in tariff in place as well, solar panel installation is not only good for the environment, but also has exciting potential as a high return low risk investment for people with a large area of land or roof space available.

For anyone with just an average sized home though it is possible to significantly reduce the cost of your electricity bill. For example in the city of Brisbane a 1.5 kW solar panel will generate an average amount of 6.3 kWh of energy; this amount of electricity production combined with QLD government's 44 cents/kWh feed tariff is the amount the households can save. At current electricity prices this would be about $736 per year, but prices are expecting to increase exponentially in the next couple of years. Choosing to install a 2.5-3KWh system can eliminate the bill of an average family completely.

Another factor that has made renewable energy such a popular choice in Queensland is the support of the local government in creating awareness through promotion. Solar panels in Brisbane account for a significant number of the total solar installations in the state, and other major cities like Sunshine coast also add a considerable number, in fact that region from Brisbane through to Gympie and Hervey Bay is a booming area for solar!

Solar Panels in Brisbane

2011-07-22T00:20:00.000-07:00

Solar energy consumption has been has been a rapidly growing trend in Australia with nearly more homes installing solar panels in Brisbane in 2010 than in all the previous years combined. This is largely thanks to strong Australian federal and state government support which has made it more affordable for families to make the switch to solar energy through generous solar schemes and rebates. All Australian states have their individual guidelines and incentives in place, so check what you are eligible for before you make the decision to install solar panels.

There are three different types of solar panels; mono-crystalline, amorphous and crystalline, and a typical Brisbane home will have a combination of this three installed. Solar panels are excellent investment in Brisbane thanks to the very favourable climate, latitude and long hours of sunshine which allow the solar systems to produce their maximum possible energy output. The state government currently has no cap in place on its feed in tariff scheme which means that you can sell back any excess clean energy you produce to your local electricity provider at a much higher rate than you are paying to buy their fossil fuel produced electricity.

A solar PV purchase is a big decision that shouldn't be rushed into without expert advice as there are many variables which influence the amount of electricity a PV system will actual produce into your meter box. This includes your allowable roof space & its aspect & angle, if there is any shading, how much electricity your family is currently using and of course your available budget. These factors should all be assessed during an in home consultation by a solar specialist, don't rely on an over the phone quote.

There are other issues that need to be considered as well including the specific components that make up your system, (especially the inverter which is crucial), and their design and optimum installation. All government solar rebates are only given on solar panels & inverters that are accredited to Australian standards (see the Clean Energy Council website for a list) for their quality and then installed by accredited installers. Your solar PV system should last for 20+ years, so making sure that you purchase from long established manufacturers who are likely to still be around to fulfill their warranties is another important consideration that should influence your decision.

So before actually buying your solar panels look for a specialist in solar PV in Brisbane who offers an in home assessment to look at all of the factors mentioned above, can advise you about how to maximise your rebates and the feed in tariff, and has highly trained staff who understand how to correctly design a system that will give that maximum power output for the smallest investment.

What is a Solar Panel?

2011-07-21T23:50:00.000-07:00

Solar panels make use of the free and renewable energy from the sun, and it is a cleanprocess of gathering that solar energy and converting that into usable electricity with the aid of the photoelectric effect. This works by simply separating sunlight's particles and then collecting the electrically charged electrons. The panels are combined with other important components like the inverter which is required to convertthis electricity into a usable form.

The panels are made by utilising crystalline silicon, gallium silicon or amorphous silicon alloy, and the cost and efficiency varies depending on which one of these materials is used.

The crystalline silicon solar panel looks like a wafer disk which is less than a centimeter thick, and is combined with a dopant material to alter the electrical charge. A metal conductor is spread all over the disk to protect the silicon layer and a glass cover is attached to the top of the panel to bond the voltaic cells tightly and for durability purposes. Conductive cement is also applied to prevent the panel from overheating, but the usual overheating precautions should still be applied like proper ventilation and spacing.

The amorphous silicon panel uses the roll to roll process, which is a lot different from the traditional crystalline silicon. The roll to roll process generates vapor which is deposited in the silicon alloys and uses a specialized layer that absorbs the different parts of the solar spectrum. The amorphous panel is the preference in the future technology of solar panel manufacture mainly because of its efficiency, cost and manufacturing possibilities.

The only drawback with this kind of panel is the installation. Attaching the wires of each cell is not as difficult as the others because soldering each wire is not applicable. You have to use electrical tape or electrical epoxy, however it doesn't aid in the conduction of the electricity. This process is harder and more time consuming but it is a preferable way to assemble the panels to prevent damage associated with soldering.

Whichever material you choose, choosing to use solar panels to generate energy is beneficial both economically and environmentally. These two reasons are responsible for the boom in the solar industry over the past few years, which shows no signs of slowing down. Especially since recent events have caused large countries like Japan and Germany to phase out nuclear energy and replace it with solar power and other renewable energy sources.

Solar Panels Alternative Electricity Source for Australia

2011-07-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

The usage of solar panels is the best alternative electricity source in many rural parts of Australia. There is an estimated 300 MW of installed photovoltaic power in Australia (as of September 2010) and this is increasing exponentially. Australia has a hot, dry and sunny climate which is perfect for solar PV panel utilisation. Most parts of Australia receive in excess of 4 KWh per square meter per day & the areas that have highest insulation are in the interior away from the population centers.

Solar panels companies keep on developing and improving the Photovoltaic (solar electric power) technology to ensure that it has become much more efficient and affordable for consumers. Australia has been one of the countries whose government is strongly supporting their people to make the switch to solar panels. This push towards solar energy was begun by providing a program that gave rebates up to $8,000 to homes and community centers to switch to solar panels. This has now been replaced by a fairer and more effective scheme where the rebates are higher with the larger size system that you install.

Solar panels are the funny looking mirrors you see on your neighborhood roofs. These grid like mirrors collect energy from the sun and then converts it into either heat or electricity. Solar energy is turned from its starting DC energy into the AC power which people can use to run their appliances or heat their homes via an inverter. That is how the solar panels work and they provide a clean renewable energy source that is essential for us to harness in greater and greater amounts.

We been hugely dependent on fossil fuels and natural gas to power our appliances and provide heat to our homes since industrialization began and these fossil fuels have been damaging our environment for a very long time now. It is our need & our responsibility to search for a viable alternative source of energy that we can easily access every day every day, so we can stop damaging our planet & reduce our dependence on finite & increasingly more expensive dirty fuel sources. By using renewable energy sources like solar panels we can all help lower the damaging global carbon footprint & save money at the same time.

So it is a very good thing that Australian government is making so much effort to help their people to switch to solar panels. In different Australian States the local governments have ongoing and some completed projects for large scale solar power generation. One example is in Victoria, where the Mildura Solar Concentrator Power Station is expected to be the biggest and most efficient solar photovoltaic power station in Australia.

It is expected to cost $905 million and generate enough electricity directly from the sun to meet the annual needs of over 45,000 homes. The power station will concentrate the sun by 500 times onto the solar cells to create ultra high power output.

Solar Panels Interesting Facts

2011-07-19T15:28:00.000-07:00

A Solar panel is assembled through the joining of unified solar cells, which are also known as photovoltaic cells. Photovoltaic cells are required for the phase where an electrical device converts the light energy into electricity, which they do via the use of the photovoltaic effect. "Photovoltaic" is field of research related to the process of photovoltaic cells producing light energy from sunlight, which can then be converted to electrical energy.

The assembly of photovoltaic cells to make solar modules, which can effectively capture the energy of the sunlight, is then called solar panels, which in turn generate energy which is called solar power. Solar energy primarily uses light and heat from the sun, which we have used since ancient times, but never as efficiently and on such a large scale as now.

Solar technologies are generally characterised depending on how they capture energy; it can be either passive solar or active solar. Passive solar use involves conductors like windows, walls, floors which have been made to collect the suns energy and then distributes that energy in the form of heat. It is called passive because it doesn't use or involve any devices.

Active solar technologies on the other hand convert solar energy to usable heat, light or cooling, and can store that energy for future purposes. Unlike the passive solar, active solar uses electrical and mechanical equipment like pumps and fans to increase the usable heat in a system, and thus increase its possible energy output.

There are a lot of advantages to using solar power such as; it has become much cheaper than some other methods, and it is nature friendly because the process has a low production of pollution. The only pollution associated with solar panels or solar energy is the production of the cell and its transportation to our homes. Another advantage is the source energy of the solar panels is highly renewable, unlike the diminishing fossil fuel energy sources used by the majority of current electricity supply.

Also solar panels have advantages in being able to bring electricity to remote places and areas where it is hard to construct natural source of the electricity. This is a huge advantage in Australia with its vast tracts of isolated land with low populations. Once installed solar panels require only little maintenance and can be used with batteries & a back-up generator to prove fully independent "off grid" sources of power.

The only disadvantages of solar power is the initial investment which is quiet expensive, but as it starts paying for itself immediately via significant savings off your electric bill, after doing the numbers you will realize what a good long term investment your solar panels will be. Imagine freeing yourself from the stress of exponentially increasing electricity bills with a solar power system that will take 4-7 years to pay off but supply clean renewable energy for you for at least 20 years.

Solar Panel Systems for Domestic Use - Swimming Pools

2011-07-18T09:52:00.000-07:00

Solar panels are the perfect way to cut energy costs, reduce your carbon emissions, and become more self-sufficient. No matter what kind of solar power you would like to use, you most likely need solar panels. There are many different kinds of solar panels. Let Solar Panel Systems help with what kind of panels are right for you, you're home.

The first types of solar panels are the traditional type. These sit atop your roof and collect the maximum amount of sunlight. These models will almost always provide enough energy to power your entire home and are available in a couple of different styles. You probably think of the older solar panel models when you think of these types of panels, the ones that stick up off your roof and make it look like a space ship. These types of panels are still available, especially if you choose used panels and they are usually more affordable than other models available today.

If you are interested in something more aesthetically pleasing, you should look into the newer solar panel models. These solar panels have been designed with style in mind. Many of these panels just sit tightly on your roof and lead flashed into the tiles. With the new modern low iron glass technology and using specialised coatings to the glass these units convert UV rays into heat that then is pumped around a solar tube system heating a cylinder tank

Professional advice on solar panel systems - Solar Energy System is your source for information on domestic solar panels and solar panel heating. One of the ways that you can use solar heat without spending too much or converting your entire home to solar heating is with a solar heat exchanger. These are available for a wide variety of uses including heating swimming pools, sheds and hot water heaters.

Professional advice on solar panel systems - Solar Panel Systems is your source for information on domestic solar panels and solar panel heating. One of the ways that you can use solar heat without spending too much or converting your entire home to solar heating is with a solar heat exchanger. These a

3 Common Types of Solar Panel Array Mountings

2011-07-17T06:37:00.000-07:00

Once you have decided to install a solar power system, you have to decide how you want to mount the solar panel. There are a few ways to mount the panel, each offering varying level of energy production. Among the factors need to be considered when choosing the type of mounting system should reflect your budget, the amount of shadow received at your house and how much of energy you expect to generate in order to run your home.

Let's discuss the 3 common types of solar panel array mountings that are being used for households.

1. Fixed array mountings

This is the simplest and least expensive type of solar panel mounting system. Since this type of mount remains stationary, they need to be positioned so that the panels are faced to the best direction to absorb as much light from the sun as possible, usually they should be set toward the equator. Although this type of panel mount is easy to install and it is the cheapest, it has least flexibility because you can't easily change the angle of solar panel once it is being installed. Therefore, the solar system may not be able to optimize for sunlight absorption at certain time due to the changes of the earth orbit throughout the year.

2. Adjustable array mountings

The solar panels position may need to be changed when the season changes. Therefore, adjustable array mountings provide more flexibility than the fixed mounts. For example, during the summer, the sun appears from a higher angle, approximate at latitude -15 degree, the solar panels can be adjusted to this angle for sunlight optimization. With the adjustable panel mounts, the solar output generated from panels can be expected to increase about 25% if compares to the fixed version. Although the adjustable array mountings are more expensive than the fixed version, they enable you to adjust the angle for receiving the best sunlight according to the seasonal changes for the best energy efficiency.

3. Tracking array mountings

The tracking solar panel mounts are built-in with intelligent to follow the sun throughout the day and the year for the best energy absorption to provide the highest energy efficiency among the types of solar panel array mountings. They come with two common types of tracking format: a single axis tracker follows the sun from east to west throughout the day; whereas, the double axis tracker moves with the sun direction throughout the day and makes seasonal declination movement of the sun throughout the year. In term of energy efficiency,they are the best type of mount for a solar power system, but they cost about 30% more expensive than other types of mounts, making those who are not wiling to invest for high initial cost choose the alternative options to go for fixed or adjustable mounts.

Summary

The above solar panel array mountings are the three types of mounts that are commonly used in solar power systems. By understanding the pros and the cons of each type of solar panel mount, you will be able to choose the type that best fit your requirements.

Dave Stillman reviews various Home Energy Guides at http://www.wind-solar-power.info. Read his reviews before you buy any of these guides. Find the best step-by-step on how you can improve the Solar Power Efficiency from Dave's resources.

What Everyone Ought To Know About The Cost Of Solar Panels

2011-07-16T15:46:00.000-07:00

There are solar panels and then there are solar panels. To be more specific, there are commercial solar panel kits and then there are do-it-yourself or DIY solar panel kits. Many people are considering placing one or more alternative sources of home energy to: bring down the cost of their utility bills; or to gain extra income by selling non-consumed energy back to the electrical company (with rebate to boot); or to simply make that green choice of choosing non-fossil fuel based energy. Whatever your personal reason may be, solar power for your home is always a great option since this form of energy can now be harnessed almost anywhere. Unlike wind power and hydro power, where the environment of your home's locale plays an important role, solar power simply needs a good area where you can harvest the sun's energy.

If you are indeed thinking about going green but are worried about the possible cost of solar panels, here are some things you ought to consider:

1. The cost of solar panels that are commercially produced can be as much as a whooping $20,000+++. Although there are less expensive factory-made kits for home use, (from $5,000 and upwards) these can still become prohibitively expensive. Some homeowners may be tasked with getting 2nd and 3rd mortgages out of their home before they actually see their investment paying off. On the other hand, the cost of solar panels offered by DIY service providers can cost you a mere $600 (given more or less, depending on a lot of factors.) This is still not inclusive of shipping and delivery costs. However, it is quite evident which one (between the commercial product and the DIY product) is really more affordable.

2. You also have to take into consideration the installation cost of solar panels. All solar power kits (obviously enough) have to be installed in your home before they can be serviceable so that the alternative energy can be hooked up with the existing energy lines. For commercial solar power kits, you need to hire a contractor for the job or a direct professional company who install solar power kits. Depending on your agreement, the type of solar panels you want installed and what energy line should the panels be attached to - you could be facing another several thousand dollars in bills. If you compare that to the cost of solar panels that you personally install with your DIY kits, you do have to agree that you probably won't be billing yourself for a weekend (or two) installing it.

3. There are now several states and electrical companies who offer rebate programs to homeowners who do install solar panel kits. Depending on state laws, some rebates for the cost of solar panels can amount to $200 per home. That is not particularly bad. In other cases, you may even be offered a chance to sell back unconsumed energy to the electrical company as a source of a regular monthly income - which is another way of earning from your solar energy investment. However, try to do the math here. Which one will prove better: a $20,000+++ investment or a $600+++ investment with the same rebate bonus and the potential to earn from unconsumed energy?

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200 Watt Solar Panel: Choosing The Right 200 Watt Solar Panel

2011-07-15T04:47:00.000-07:00

A 200 watt solar panel, or a number of 200 watt solar panels, to produce power for your home, office or other building/location, is a major investment. And, like all major investments, your investment in a good 200 watt solar panel should not be taken lightly. In fact, in order for your pv solar system to function properly, save you money and pay for itself in the shortest amount of time possible, choosing the right 200 watt solar panel is just as, if not more, important as choosing the other system components and properly installing the complete pv solar system.

Today, the 200 watt solar panel is incredibly popular, and is often the choice of homeowners, business owners and professional solar installers for both grid-tie and off-grid pv solar systems. The rise in demand for the 200 watt solar panel can be attributed to many factors, including:

- The lower cost of silicon-based pv panels

- The increased demand for home and commercial-size pv system installations

- The combination of size, power output and price that make the 200 watt solar panel one of the most cost-effective investments

So, when you are looking for the 200 watt solar panel you are going to use for your own grid-tie or off-grid pv system, or the 200 watt solar panel that you are going to recommend and install for your clients and customers, what criteria should you consider?

Well, there are several.

First, the price. I know that it is not always wise to go with the lowest bidder, and I would never recommend it (for the most part). However, if you notice that a particular 200 watt solar panel costs significantly more than other 200 watt solar panels, which all seem fairly similar in their specifications, performance and reviews, it is probably most cost-effective to steer clear of extremely high model(s) and go with a more reasonable, average price 200 watt solar panel. Just remember to make sure that you do not over-step your budget trying to invest in the most expensive (which is not always the best) 200 watt solar panel you can find.

Second, the supplier or manufacturer. Have you heard of the supplier or manufacturer of the 200 watt solar panel you are considering? Do you know a friend, family member, neighbor or co-worker who has worked with them in the past? It is always recommended that you do due-diligence in researching at least a little bit of background on a company before ordering your 200 watt solar panel (or any product for that matter) from them. However - just as a side note, you should also keep in mind that though you may find a few negatives or black marks about a company online, this is often 1, 2 or a handful of people at most (out tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of people) who have had a bad experience with the company.

Once you have found the 200 watt solar panel that fits your budget, is fairly priced according the market and its performance, and is from a supplier that you trust, or who has worked with someone that you trust, you are really all set, and are ready to install your new 200 watt solar panel, and start saving money on your electric bills right away.

You can get my favorite 200 watt solar panel at:

http://www.siliconsolar.com/grid-tie-off-grid-solar-panels.html

You can get my favorite 200 watt solar panel at:

http://www.siliconsolar.com/grid-tie-off-grid-solar-panels.html

Buy Solar Panel Smart

2011-07-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

There are many advantages of using solar power. For example, if you use solar panels to power the electric-based heating system, you will not encounter any regular monthly expenses on heating your home. With oil or natural gas based heaters, you have to pay for gas or oil consumption expenditure per month to maintain a sustained heat your home. Since solar energy is free, you can run your heating or cooling system is based on did not encounter any additional monthly fees. Many people like to use solar energy, because it is a "clean energy" and not harmful to the environment. Some countries, including the U.S., in fact, tax incentives and benefits for people who buy solar panels and generate their own electricity!

A solar panel is a device from the sun's rays into useful electricity, power, and we use the same power to our homes, equipment, utensils, and even some vehicles. The stronger the sunlight, the more solar panels can be produced.

Today, more and more people are looking for ways to reduce electricity costs. One way to do this is to limit the use of any electrical appliances in the home, but most of us think that it is difficult to do. So, what else can we do to save money electricity? One possible option is to buy solar panels, so that you can generate your own electricity.

Now, in the purchase of panels, there are many things to consider. One of the most important factor is to consider your demand. Inspection or estimate the power consumption required for any electrical appliances in your home, you want your panels to power. Most people use the energy from panels heat the water, because hot water or air conditioning / catering units, because all these good amount of electricity normally consumed. Make a list of the power rating of any electrical power supply, you may want to use panels, all the number and power, that will give you an idea of the amount of electricity consumed per month when you use the specific equipment and utensils . When choosing a solar panel, select a higher rated power than the light you from your list calculation. This ensures that the solar panel you buy will have enough power output for your device.

Buy-Solar Panel provides highly valuable information and buying tip for people who are serious about Solar Panel, Solar Power Equipment for the next generation of Free Energy.
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Solar Panels for Your Homes in India

2011-07-13T04:15:00.000-07:00

Fossil Fuels are the non-renewable, natural resources of immeasurable importance to the mankind. The rapid consumption of the fossil fuels has been a rising concern for most global leaders. In order to combat this current situation, scientific advancements are shifting towards alternative forms of energy. Home Solar Panels are an important invention in this regard.

The concept of panels for home has been surfacing for quite some time now. After proving its mettle in various commercial set ups and governmental projects across the world, panels have made a splash into the residential sector. Moving on, they are being widely used for residential use in various parts of the world. In US, solar panels for home are specifically designed and installed by a team of experts to ensure optimum performance in home appliances and electronics.

They are different than their commercial counterparts. They are less rugged and are meant for limited generation of electricity and heating purpose in home. The solar panels for home work on the principle of energy conversion. The home solar panels for home in India convert the energy from sun into electric and in some cases, heat energy. These started off as a big hit in the USA and have slowly made positive in-roads in the Indian domestic market. There are special solar panels for your home which are now easily installable and don't cost you a fortune.

Earlier, they were considered a distant dream with the heavy purchase price stamped on them. But now the magical, elusive solar panel for your home was an achievable commodity. With more sophisticated technology, government intervention, subsidized rates and reduction in taxes, you can now buy solar panels for your home in India at an affordable rate.

The panel for homes in India is designed along the same lines as the western countries. Already within a short span of time, hundreds of solar panel for homes in India has been installed till date.

To popularize and aid in the sale in India, the Indian government has taken the initiative to introduce the less expensive variety in the domestic market. The panels for home in India are specially installed at roof tops and terraces and are placed to capture the slanting rays of sun to absorb and convert sun's energy into a more usable form. Through these, the sunlight is converted into electric energy which is used in running home appliances and also into heat energy for other purposes.

The use of panels for home in India is no longer a costly affair but is an environment-friendly step towards the conservation of our non-renewable resources. Their use for your home in India is an important way of the protection of our fossil fuels and saving them for our future generations. As it is said, "We don't conserve natural resources for our future generations, we only borrow from them."

Justin is a researcher on solar panels cost in India and has been exploring the opportunities for the use of solar panels for domestic purposes.

There are various websites available online which provide the facility to purchase solar panels. Many of them also have solar panels which are useful for domestic purposes. It is, however, difficult to choose from a lot of available options. We just suggest you to get the price quotes and to do a background check on the brand before buying from them.

Facts About Solar Energy And Its Domestic Use

2011-07-08T01:21:00.000-07:00

Did you know that using renewable energy at your home can save you thousands of dollars on utility bills? Learn some facts about solar energy in this article

What exactly is solar energy and how can we get this?

These days one often gets to hear about solar energy, solar panels and solar powered appliances. Solar energy, it seems, is what the whole world is talking about these days. Solar energy, as one might correctly surmise from the name itself, is derived from the sun. What we fondly call sunlight is actually clusters of electromagnetic waves that are absorbed by the upper strata of the earth's atmosphere. It is interesting to learn that of the entire amount of solar energy reaching the earth's surface, about two thirds get absorbed by the various water bodies, clouds and landmasses while the rest is reflected back into space. Solar energy generator plants harness a part of this absorbed energy and converted into various other useful forms of energy, mainly electricity and heat. Solar energy in the modern world is generated by modern techniques called solar power generators of various types like photovoltaic cells, solar thermals, solar heaters, solar roof tiles, solar chimneys etc. This article will cover various essential aspects of solar power that you can't afford to remain ignorant about.

Do not believe in the myths of solar energy

We live in an age marked by a heightened consciousness about environmental issues. As the entire world unites to join forces against environmental pollution and to save its natural resources from getting depleted, much of the population still remains largely ignorant about alternative sources of energy. Yet, it is surprising to see how little we still know about solar energy and its real potential. So here are the facts. Solar energy is completely renewable and perennial, and is fully sustainable. It is also absolutely clean in nature, emitting no harmful pollutants in the air and posing no threat to the environment whatsoever. Apart from the direct use of solar energy like the heat needed in the colder seasons, drying clothes, absorbing vitamin D for the bones there are several other uses that are performed by capturing and machinating this wonder power by the solar power generators. Solar energy generators find their application in a varied number of fields like lighting buildings, in architecture, agriculture, urban planning, solar vehicles and even domestic usages like cooking and water heating. Another misconception about solar energy is that it is rather expensive and is beyond the reach of the common man. Quite on the contrary, solar energy can actually help the common man make substantial savings on his energy consumption costs. All the expenses involved are actually limited to the initial set up costs after which, it is practically a free ticket to unlimited energy.

Want some more trivia on solar power and solar energy? Here goes. Did you know that sunlight has the potential to act as a massive source of abundant energy, enough to meet the energy requirements of the entire planet? Also, did anybody ever tell you that the amount of sunlight that falls in an hour on the earth's surface actually surpasses the amount required by the entire world's population in a year?

Solar energy - good for the economy, development and the environment too

If you have always been concerned about lowering costs and finding economical modes of power generation, solar energy is the closest you can get to making your dreams come true. In today's volatile economy, prices rise and fall by sharp margins abruptly. With solar panels, you can insure yourself against all possible rises in the price of wholesale fossil fuels. After all, you will never be charged for using sunlight! The ecological benefits of using solar energy are also tremendous. Man's incessant need for heat and light is leading to the rapid reduction in the reserve of natural resources. In the face of our dwindling natural reserves, the salvation of mankind lies in adopting such alternative means of energy production as solar power and wind power. However, while discussing the facts about solar energy let us not overlook the few disadvantages that it has. Solar power generation requires plenty of sunlight. So it is critical to select an area that gets plenty of sunlight throughout the year, or else the entire set-up might be rendered futile. Research on these limitations is still going on and very soon there will come a time when solar power will effectively replace conventional power everywhere. Leonardo Da Vinci would have been glad to see his 1447 dream of solar industrialization taking shape after all these years after his death!

Building solar panels at home calls for some degree of familiarity with the subject. Your chances of succeeding with your project will improve manifold if you have a step-by-step guide. A step-by-step guide that clearly walks you through all the necessary steps, can prove to be really useful in this regard. Installing a solar energy panel at home is one of the best decisions you will ever take. Not only will you be happy to watch your energy costs go down radically, but will also be glad to know that you are doing your bit for the environment, and ensuring a greener tomorrow for your next generation.

Jim Martin is a researcher, inventor, home energy consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Earth 4 Electricity- Renewable Energy Made Easy". Jim has written dozens of home energy related articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.

To Learn More about Jim MartinÂ´s Unique Step By Step Solar and Wind Power System Visit: Earth 4 Electricity.

For further information visit: Home Solar Power

Jim Martin is a researcher, inventor, home energy consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Earth 4 Electricity- Renewable Energy Made Easy". To Learn More about Jim MartinÂ´s Unique Step By Step Solar and Wind Power System Visit: Earth 4 Electricity.

For further information visit: Solar Power

Solar Energy Conclave 2010

2011-07-07T11:51:00.000-07:00

Renewable Energy is now playing a vital role in providing clean energy solutions. Being a tropical country, India is blessed with an enormous amount of solar energy, both in terms of heat and light, throughout the year. The Government of India has already started focussing its attention towards the development and deployment of renewable energy systems and devices including solar energy in the country through the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Solar energy in broad terms can be harnessed through two routes: Solar Thermal and Solar Photovoltaic. The Solar Thermal route has applications such as water heating, air heating, cooking, drying of agricultural and food products, distillation of water, water purification, detoxification of wastes, cooling and refrigeration, process heat for industry, steam generation for cooking and electricity generation.

Through the Solar Photovoltaic route, solar lights, solar pumps, solar road studs, solar blinkers, solar power plants for villages, telecommunication systems, energy for computers, solar power for schools and hostels, battery charging, railway signalling etc can be powered.

The designing of energy efficient buildings based on solar passive architecture along with energy efficiency measures is also an upcoming activity. Most of these systems & devices have been developed in India through Research & Development and demonstration programmes.

Solar Energy Conclave 2010

Recently, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) along with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) organized a 'Solar Energy Conclave 2010' which provided a common platform to share the experience of various stake-holders including the NRI's in promotion of Solar Energy in India and making the National Solar Mission targets, a reality.

The main objective of the event was to showcase the opportunities and the potential of solar energy development in the country. With the launching of National Solar Mission, India was set to harness its huge solar potential. At that juncture the conclave provided a common ground for Non-Resident Indians (NRI's) and Indian stakeholders to join hands for making the National Solar Mission a success and facilitate further expansion.

National Solar Mission inaugurated by PM Dr. Manmohan Singh

India's Prime Minster Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurated the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission on 11th January 2010 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi at the Solar Energy Conclave 2010. The Mission was launched under the brand name 'Solar India'. While launching he said its success could transform India's energy prospects.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that this National Solar Mission has the pride of place in India's National Action Plan on Climate Change. Its success has the potential of transforming India's energy prospects, and contributing to national as well as global efforts to combat climate change. This Mission is one of the major priorities of the second term of our government. He congratulate Dr. Abdullah and the other colleagues particularly Shri Shyam Saran, for the work they have done in bringing this to fruition.

He said that the target of 20,000 MW of solar generating capacity by the end of the 13th Five Year Plan is an ambitious target but he believes that the target is doable and that everyone should work single-mindedly to achieve it as priority national endeavour.

Solar EnergyThe carefully crafted regulatory and incentive framework that has been unveiled today has several innovative features. We expect that it will lead to a rapid scale up of capacity. This will encourage technological innovation and generate economies of scale, thereby leading to a steady lowering of costs. Once parity with conventional power tariff is achieved, there will be no technological or economic constraint to the rapid and large-scale expansion of solar power thereafter, he said.

He hoped that the mission would also establish India as a global leader in solar energy, not just in power generation but in manufacturing and technology.

He also said-It was the vision of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru that enabled India to create world-class scientific and technological capacities in the field of atomic energy and space sectors. Solar energy can also be the next scientific and technological frontier in India after Atomic Energy, Space and Information Technology.

"If the ambitious roll out of the Mission is to become a reality, we will have to create many 'Solar Valleys' on the lines of the Silicon Valleys that are spurring our IT industry across the four corners of our country. These valleys will become hubs for solar science, engineering and research, fabrication and manufacturing," he added. He urged industry to see the mission as a huge business opportunity.

In his concluding remarks he said that "The Sun has long been recognized as a primal source of all energy on earth. In an ancient civilization like India, the Sun has been worshipped as the God who bestows life and sustains it. The bounty of the Sun is truly inexhaustible, renewable and free. It is to this source of energy that humankind must turn to meet the twin challenge of energy security and climate change. I wish the Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission every success."

Dr. Farooq Abdullah on the Solar Energy Conclave 2010

Dr. Farooq Abdullah said India plans to install 20 million solar lights and 20 million square metres of solar panel to generate 20,000 MW by 2022 as part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy.

Farooq Abdullah, in his note address "By 2022, we aim to install 20 million square metres of solar thermal collectors and save 7,500 MW power generation capacity," he said at the launch of the mission here. "We want 20 million solar lights to be installed by 2022, which would result in a saving of one billion litres of kerosene every year."

"In the next three years, India plans to add 1,300 MW of solar power, of which 1,100 MW will be grid-connected and 200 MW will be off-grid. This is our first benchmark. If we achieve this, achieving the remaining target will not be impossible. A huge constraint in the commercial use of solar energy has been its cost. Today, the initial cost of solar energy is very high, especially for grid power generation. We aim to bring down the cost as quickly as possible," Dr. Abdullah added.

Attendees of Solar Energy Conclave 2010

Non-Resident Indian Professionals.
Technology leaders - researchers, scientists and engineers.
Industry leaders - manufacturers, system integrators, financial and insurance services providers, investors, entrepreneurs and analysts.
Academic leaders - professors, teachers, university and school facilities managers.
Government leaders - policy-makers and utility representatives.
Future leaders - students, green builders and homeowners.

Benefits

Better understanding of mutual need and strengths.
Exposure to state of art technologies.
Sharing of experience.
Technology and research & Development Collaborations.
Business opportunities.
Networking among the solar community.

A writer of glass-related article, particularly glass architectures.

Statistics For Solar Energy

2011-07-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

Solar energy is fast becoming one of the more promising alternative forms of energy sources that is out in the energy industry today. The main reason for this is probably due to the fact that its main source of energy, which is the sun, is able to provide over 10,000 times more than the energy that our planet is able to produce. This helps show people that solar energy is one of the best alternative energy sources for the future. However, dont simply take my word for it. Instead, check these different solar energy figures and statistics and see for yourself if whether solar energy is indeed everything that people are claiming it to be.

Is Solar Energy Systems Financially Viable?

One of the main things that people look at when it comes to alternative sources of energy is whether it is financially viable or not. Getting a solar energy system for your home or work place these days would actually help you save some money on the total cost of your utility bills annually. However, this particular benefit is not necessarily immediate, as there are some other costs that you need to consider. Nonetheless, using solar thermal systems would allow you to get back the total cost within 5 years of installation, and 15 years for photovoltaic panels, after which, you can then enjoy the benefits of cutting down the total cost for your energy consumption.

Does Solar Energy Reduce Cost Of Energy Consumption?

Studies have shown that using certain solar energy systems do reduce the total cost of energy consumption that your home or work place might incur. If done right, you can actually lower your annual utility bill by as much as 80%, which is very significant, especially if you are trying to find ways to save some money.

Also, there are certain programs that allow solar energy systems user to sell back energy or electricity that they were not able to consume to the utility provider, giving you more ways to save money.

Do Sunny Areas Have More Solar Energy Systems?

Although the ideal location to place these solar energy power plants to harness sunlight would be in locations that have an ideally hot climate, some places which does not have that hot of a climate are known to have more solar panels than those which have hot climates. Denmark and Holland, and most of the northern European country, claims that they have more solar panels than the United Kingdom, indicating that you dont necessarily have to have a hot climate in order to enjoy the benefits of solar energy.

How Much Area Does Solar Power Plants Need?

Most, if not all, solar power plants require a certain stretch of land area in order to house all the solar panels that these power plants need to have in order to properly harness and collect sunlight and solar energy. Depending on the size of the power plant and the solar energy output needed, each solar power plant land area would vary, from 250,000 square meters of solar panels in the United Kingdom, to the 93 million square meters of solar panel in China.

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Solar Energy Figures And Statistics

Solar energy is becoming one of the most promising alternative energy sources, to date in the energy sector. The main reason is probably due to the fact that their most important energy source, the sun is able to provide more than 10,000 times the energy that could cause our planet. This helps to show people that solar energy is one of the best sources of alternative energy for the future. But do not just take my word. Instead, consider these facts other than solar energy and the statistics and see for yourself whether, if solar power is really all that people say they are.

Solar energy is economically viable?

One of the most important things you see when it comes to alternative energy sources, which is viable or not. First, a solar system for your home or place of work these days to really save some 'money each year on the total cost of the electricity bill. However, this particular advantage is not necessarily immediate, because there are other costs, you should consider are. However, with solar heating systems would be able to reflect the total cost within 5 years of installation, and 15 years for PV modules, which are then enjoy the benefits of the reduction of the total energy consumption.

Solar energy is the reduction of energy costs?

Studies have shown that the use of certain solar energy systems so that the total cost of energy consumption could be your home or at work caused a reduction. If done correctly, can reduce the annual electricity bill up to 80%, which is very important, especially when it comes to finding ways to save some money.

There are also some programs to sell to the users of solar energy systems or backflow of energy that is consumed in terms of supply, which may give you more ways to save money.

Have areas of systems alone have more energy?

Although the ideal place to use solar power plants in the sun cutting in places that have a perfect warm climate, some places not known for warm climate for solar systems for hot areas should be. Denmark and Holland, and most northern European countries have said they are equipped with solar panels higher than those of the United Kingdom, which does not necessarily indicate a warm climate to enjoy the benefits of solar energy.

How long does an area of solar energy systems?

Most if not all, solar power plants need a certain area of land to accommodate all the solar panels that have these plants in order to properly use and the need to collect sunlight and solar energy. Depending on the size of the plant and the sun's energy is required, each solar power system of the earth may vary, of 250,000 square meters of solar collectors in the United Kingdom of 93 million square meters of solar panels in China.

A guide on how to build a solar panel system and for more information on creating solar panels on our Website

Combination of solar energy and buildings: improving the standard side has a - solar energy, energy

2011-07-05T03:22:00.000-07:00

(986, 'Since 2006 the state began pushing Energy Emissions around the Solar Energy Industry support to increase Shenzhen Yantai Guangzhou and other cities as well as in Jiangsu Hainan Province has announced the implementation of mandatory installation of solar water heaters policy solar energy and building integrated as Building energy efficiency Find a way out solar energy quot put a order quot contributed However the promotion of solar energy and construction integration is more difficult there are multiple reasons for this embarrassing situation br br Solar water heater can not meet current building requirements for diversification marketing models revealed many shortcomings First the owners to install solar cluttered affecting new residential landscape to create visual pollution in urban marginal landscape Second imperfect as domestic standards different standards for solar destruction of the building structure and function in the construction of the water lightning wind bearing a security risk areas solar injury solar and other events often found in the newspapers fall height Third many of the top floor of the roof has become the owner of the quot private domain quot because many property owners to install solar roof which disputes can easily cause the late property management for the inconvenience Fourth as the country quot with saving energy and building quot initiative the launching of the urbanization process now more and more high rise buildings with limited roof space it increasingly difficult to meet the majority of owners on the use of solar energy needs Solar water heaters deficiencies but also made a lot of real estate agency love hate and many communities the property is strictly prohibited to install solar energy many cities such as Dalian also issued a quot no security order quot br br Due to information asymmetry some developers do not understand the solar product design institutes so that they can not accept the product or not well integrated to the building which will be solar Solar industry some companies lack of self binding which do not meet the standards of building integrated products installed in buildings not only did not play the role of energy conservation but also affected the building aesthetics resulting in solar energy consumers developers understanding of solar energy products deviation br br The experts pointed out that the biggest bottleneck is the promotion of countries also lack of effective monitoring throughout the solar energy products and standard system can be divided into the integration of solar energy and building standards and product standards of two categories br br Principle if the solar system the introduction of construction it must have a certain standard so that all the designers all of the real estate developer and all of the construction industry are available through a standardized system in the early building integration can be carried out to consider as every household security windows high rise elevator installation is as simple as naturally br br Force Norit technical experts Qi kun said the companies are accelerating the pace of energy conservation in such circumstances can not first go after other standards promulgated the implementation of solar energy and construction integration the best way is to continued in the implementation of these norms the establishment of demonstration Project To work to promote standards in the model of perfect in turn regulate construction so as to promote the integration of solar energy and building positive development Norit force in the country to implement more than 1 000 solar energy and building integrated Chemical industry Process can ensure that each project are demonstration projects some of them works also highly positive Hangzhou Long Island greenway as water engineering were among the United Nations quot Habitat Award quot Shanghai Construction ASTRI projects to receive the National Green Building Innovation Award first prize for building an integrated class project Ningbo quot Vico Waterfront mind quot Solar Project become the quot Ministry of residential energy conservation demonstration area quot and so on br br Promotion practice in engineering based on force Norit first introduced in the country quot Solar Hot water system Integrated Design and Application Architecture quot standard atlas for the synchronization design of solar energy and architecture synchronous construction synchronization testing synchronization management of technical standards became the first most comprehensive and most representative building integrated solar energy and Atlas Power Norit this approach is the best model among the perfect example of specification br br Product or brand from the point of view what kind of solar energy to meet the standards can and building quot good match quot mean Deputy General Manager of Literature and Philosophy force Norit Liang said that the country should first of all related departments and developers jointly develop solar energy enterprises or building integrated solar energy products for the standard first rigid standards for products to be laid down to ensure the installation in building on the quality of solar energy Second for the solar industry the Government should create a fair and equitable bidding environment and the tender quot market quot so not only can guarantee the quality of solar energy and building integrated but also to promote the sound development of the solar energy industry br br Review the history of solar energy every step of the development depended on government support Liang Wen Zhe said future development in the solar industry the government functions from the command to boot through macro control the solar industry continues to market and going out in the laws of the market screening continuous improvement to building integration specification the final specification to enhance the solar energy industry solar industry to achieve the big step The enterprises should also upgrade their products to enable them to better integrate with the architecture to realize parts of solar water heaters Solar industry to shoulder the important task of energy conservation which requires all enterprises to improve self binding responsible for the product the consumer is responsible to the State so that their products comply with or better than national standards to parts of the solar solar energy and building the foundation for perfect integration ')

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ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ENERGY

2011-07-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

Several villages, cities and governments are trying to lower dependency on traditional sources of energy and are using wind, water and the sun instead. Every variant has something different to offer, thus a tabulation of solar energy pros and cons is useful to determine its place among other options.

Solar energy is a fast-evolving market, and that should count as one of the foremost advantages of solar energy. Much technological advance has been made in solar products in the century and a half since the idea was first conceived. It's in the interest of the consumer to create a balance sheet on the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy.

SOLAR ENERGY ADVANTAGES - THE ECONOMIC ANGLE

Indeed, the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the pros and cons of solar energy is the fact that solar power is a renewable source. This is one of the advantages of solar energy that fits both the financial and the environmental bill. Let's tackle the monetary aspect first.

While improvements in solar systems have made solar power more financially accessible, the initial payment is nonetheless high. However, as solar energy becomes more affordable with each passing year, another one of solar energy advantages is that after the initial payment is recovered, solar energy is actually cost-free. The electricity bill decreases, and savings are long-term. Moreover, government incentives definitely sweeten the deal; case in point: the National Solar Mission. Another one of the economic advantages of solar energy is no zero transmission / transport cost, since the energy is produced when consumed.

Taking the economic angle a little further, much of India's dependence on foreign oil can be reduced, which in turn would save crores of rupees. India has excellent solar insolation figures - around 3000 hours per year, which can be put to use in an ultimately cost-effective and sustainable channel. For India, at least, the advantages of solar energy far outweigh the disadvantages of solar energy.

SOLAR ENERGY ADVANTAGES - THE ENVIRONMENTAL ANGLE

Another huge benefit of solar power, which definitely tips the balance of pros and cons of solar energy in its favour, is the clean usage of sun's photons. This means of power is environment-friendly: no polluting substances are emitted, no depletion of a precious resource, and no contribution to the already gross effect of global warming. The clean and sustainable nature is one of the driving advantages of solar energy. This way, oil and coal can be put to other uses.

SOLAR ENERGY ADVANTAGES - THE APPLICATION ANGLE

Cost and environment are only two areas where solar energy shines; another is the actual installation of solar devices. Since solar energy products have no need to be linked to the main power grid and only require proper equipment, the independence of solar power is another plus in the tabulation of solar energy pros and cons.

This is one of the reasons why street solar lighting and providing solar-powered electricity to remote access areas are two of the favourite solar energy uses in India; the government is clearly using solar energy advantages in its favour. The independent nature of solar energy allows customers to cater to individual needs and costs. DIY solar panel systems are also appearing in markets. The low maintenance and long-lasting nature of solar cells allows even more autonomy.

A further reach into the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy shows that solar energy is not a huge out-of-reach phenomenon. From cooking to heating water, from cooling and ventilation to electricity generation, solar energy can be used from the most menial of tasks to the greatest of tasks, like a solar car.

Thus, the applications of solar energy are far and wide, from industry to household usage, from architecture and urban planning to rural and remote area employment.

As for solar energy disadvantages, there are benefits and drawbacks to each kind of energy resource; solar power is no different, and there are both pros and cons of solar energy. Onwards, therefore, to discuss the disadvantages of solar energy:

SOLAR ENERGY DISADVANTAGES - THE ECONOMIC ANGLE

As has been already mentioned above, the initial investment cost is still quite high, though decreasing every year. Therefore, one of the disadvantages of solar energy is the rather long cost recovery period.

Yet another one of solar energy disadvantages is that the cost of producing a unit of sun-based energy is still significantly higher than a coal-based electrical unit. There is still much time left before solar energy reaches the same cost-efficient status of coal-based electricity.

SOLAR ENERGY DISADVANTAGES - THE AVAILABILITY ANGLE

Continuing the discussion on advantages and disadvantages of solar energy, one of the biggest disadvantages of solar energy is the question of sun's 'availability'. Only some parts of the world are strong contenders for all-year round solar power, though small scale production also exists. Location of the sun is another issue, since it changes position throughout the day. CSPs and other devices aside, it leads to another one of solar energy disadvantages: solar panels require large areas for installation, to be best able to harness the maximum.

Furthermore no sun means no solar energy: another black mark against solar energy. Night-time, clouds, rain, air pollution and wind all incapacitate solar panels.

PROS AND CONS OF SOLAR ENERGY - THE BALANCE SHEET

The above states several main advantages and disadvantages of solar energy, and it can be easily seen that solar power claims more gains than losses. However, high initial costs remain solar energy's greatest weakness.

The fact that there are solar energy pros and cons to begin with only strengthens the accessibility of this form of renewable energy. Researchers are tying to lower the economic disadvantages of solar energy through enhancing efficiency, to make it even more financially approachable.

Knowing solar energy has several advantages over disadvantages, the need of the hour is to put aside discussion on solar energy pros and cons and to focus on expanding the solar product market independently of oil ups and downs.

SOLARPANELSINDIA

Meiling solar energy solar energy and building energy efficiency along the front line - solar energy

2011-07-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

Solar Net HC Â Housing construction on the resource consumption and environmental impact are large, is to build resource-saving and environment-friendly society in important areas, and actively explore renewable energy applications in residential development and promotion has become the world's housing and sustainable development theme. China is an energy, a relative shortage of resources in countries, the Chinese Government attaches great importance to science and technology in the residential housing in the implementation of the principles of the relevant government departments clearly put forward the residential construction Energy Saving, environmental protection and conservation of intensive land use, binding targets. Solar as a new energy of the most clean, cheap energy, more and more people of all ages, but is based on solar energy products Home Appliances Product form rather than the form of building components in building applications, there is a big disadvantage is also greatly restricted range of applications. Therefore, the "Solar Energy and Building Integrated Applications" will be the development of solar and building a major trend. China Solar Energy Industry Association vice chairman of the unit?? Hefei Meiling Solar Energy Technology Co., Ltd. in a timely and accurate grasp of the combination of solar energy and construction trends in solar energy and building integrated applications fruitful laid Meiling first class building integrated solar energy system application service provider status.

Since its inception in April 2002, after several major renovation and expansion, Meiling solar energy company now has annual output of 50 million various types of Solar water heaters, 5 million solar vacuum tube, 10 million rotational pressure water tank (or other rotational products) and other 7 series and more than 100 kinds of products each year. And to build a solar energy industry's most complete industrial chain, with vacuum tubes, pressure tanks, non-pressure water tank, bracket, assembly lines, and all parts of the modern solar energy production, is a large base of the solar energy industry.

Vacuum tube solar water heater is one of the core components. Company is producing solar vacuum tube in Anhui Province's leading enterprises, with a number of advanced vacuum plating Membrane Production line. Can produce diameter 47- 58mm, length 1200? 2100mm, species include heat pipes, the three executives, purple tube and other specifications of vacuum tube. Product testing by the relevant state departments, the technical parameters is better than national standards, some technical indicators leads the industry level.

2007, the company built a leading rotational molding pressure water container production line. Rotational pressure water container is split pressure solar hot water system core components, Meiling rotational pressure water container of the pressure layer and leak-proof layer plates were used and special synthetic polymer materials. The steel-plastic body Chemical industry Art will be confined in the inner surface and the openings and leak-proof layer integrates seamless, without any seam, which really does not weld the liner form. The product has good corrosion resistance and easy to scale, strong adhesion and high resistance to low temperature, while guaranteeing clean water pollution.

Complete solar energy industry chain and rotational pressure water container production line put into production, as Meiling solar energy to create the domestic first-class building integrated solar energy system application service provider, has laid a solid foundation and supporting capacity.

Meiling Solar is a national high-tech enterprise, with strong scientific and technological innovation, with Meiling Solar Energy Research Institute, solar hot water project center, specializing in solar thermal, photovoltaic research. The company also has Meiling solar thermal, photovoltaic utilization test floor. The test set of solar floor heat, electricity conversion, cooling, housing Heating, Swimming pool water purification systems and water quality tests in one, becoming the very few companies have the ability to test large-scale application of solar energy integrated solar companies. September 2008, the company's involvement of the CAS Knowledge Innovation Program of The "solar photovoltaic, building integrated solar thermal utilization technologies," the research task. Close by the end of 2009, the company has obtained 12 national patents.

2007, the company successfully developed "and the pressure building integrated solar hot water system, split families," the collector and separate hot water storage tank, collector mounting location diversity, to achieve the perfect construction combined with the successful application of solar energy challenges crack the high-rise building. Industry-leading technical level of the system, with pressure to run, automatic Sheung Shui, intelligent control, supply hot water all day climate characteristics of science and technology, fashion, safety, energy conservation Environmental protection Products. The system won the "key new products in Anhui Province", has many high-end residential area in the country to use. October 2009, "Meiling brand household split pressurized solar water heating system" has been rated four national "third renewable energy and energy-saving products and technology fair in excellent products."

Posted: 2010/1/15 font size: large, medium
At the same time independent research and development, Meiling Solar Energy and China University of Technology, Ministry of Housing and Urban and Rural Housing Industrialization Promotion Center and other agencies working together and building integrated solar energy research in the field has achieved fruitful results, the solar and building control combination of core technology, the successful launch of solar building integrated systems solutions. Whether multi-layer, high-rise, high-rise, residential villas and other water projects, or guesthouses, hotels, schools, solar pool, solar hot water heating and other large commercial projects, and PV power station project, Meiling solar features can be under the Buildings and customers need to provide the perfect solution.

Date, Meiling solar energy companies have successfully implemented to a large office building in Chaoyang, Liaoning Hualong Group heating systems, residential buildings in Anhui traffic police corps split solar energy, solar water heating the copper crown estate swimming pool represented a demonstration project batch of large solar building integrated applications engineering, and build China University of Technology School of Engineering Sciences of new photovoltaic / solar thermal (PVT) integrated system pilot project. Recently, Meiling solar energy again in Anhui, Guangdong, Yunnan, Sichuan, Liaoning, Shaanxi and other provinces and successful large-scale solar energy projects, promote the domestic solar energy and the rapid development of building integrated.

Meiling solar energy and solar energy company actively involved in the promotion of building integrated applications, has participated in the drafting of the Hefei "building integrated solar energy technology and implementation details," Anhui "building integrated solar energy utilization and technical standards" and Anhui Province "and building integrated solar technology standard atlas." March 1, 2009 by the Meiling solar energy company involved in the drafting of Anhui Province "building integrated solar energy utilization and technical standards" promulgated and implemented, which provides qualified new and rebuilt 12-story building will be the following

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Solar Energy And Ways To Use It

2011-07-02T03:43:00.000-07:00

About Solar

Solar power is described as the creation of electricity straight from the sun. The generation can be direct with the use of PV or photovoltaics or indirect via CSP or concentrating solar power. CSP is done by using the energy of the sun to focus and boil water which will eventually create solar power. Solar power has the capacity to give more than 1000 times the total world energy consumption back in 2008. However, solar power only comprised 0.02% of the total in 2008.

If solar power will be used double every 2 to 3 years, it can become the dominate source of energy for the century. The biggest solar power plants, are concentrating solar thermal plants, although new multi-megawatt photovoltaic plants have also been created. More and more countries are investing in the bigger photovoltaic power stations, like Germany and Portugal.

More Solar Power

Terrestrial solar power is a predictable and intermittent source of energy, which means even though solar power is not readily available all the time, people can still predict it using a certain degree of accuracy when the energy source will or will not be available. A number of technologies, like the solar thermal concentrators, include an element of thermal storage, such as molten salts.

These come in the form of heat and are considered as store spare solar energy that can readily be made available overnight or at times when solar power is not available to create electricity. Orbital solar power collection also avoids the intermittent use, although satellite launching and beaming of the gathered power are required to get antennas on Earth. The enhanced intensity of the sunlight over the atmosphere also tends to boost the generation efficiency.

About Solar Energy

Solar energy, heat and radiant light that emanates from the sun have been controlled by humans beginning the ancient periods using a wide range of evolving technologies. Solar radiation, together with secondary solar-powered resources like biomass, wind, wave and hydroelectricity are accountable for majority of the available renewable energy on Earth. Only a small fraction of the available solar energy is utilized.

Solar powered electrical generation depends on photovoltaics and heat engines. The uses of solar energy are only limited by human ingenuity. Some of the other uses of solar energy include space cooling and heating via solar architecture, solar hot water, solar cooking, potable water via distillation and disinfection, daylighting and high temperature process heat for industrial functions. Solar panels are one of the most effective and basic ways to gather solar energy.

Type of Solar Enery

Solar energy is present in different kinds. This is categorized according to the manner of conversion, as well as the type of energy that it gets converted into. It is important that you learn more about the types so that you can see how much energy you will need for your setup. The levels and features will also differ based on the type. Knowing the categories will help you determine if it is wise to pick a certain system or not. Here is some more info.

The First Category

The first way to view solar energy will depend on how the energy is transformed into useful energy. There are a couple of types in this category - passive solar energy and active solar energy. Passive solar energy describes the harnessing of the energy of the sun without the need for mechanical devices. You can use windows that face south to give you natural light and additional heat for the home. There are many solar applications that a homeowner can rely on to get the most benefits out of passive solar energy like passive cooling, passive solar heating and daylighting.

Active solar energy involves the use of mechanical devices in collecting, storing and distributing solar energy inside the home. Pumps, for example, are used in active solar energy water heating systems to circulate the water through the system. There are plenty of solar applications that a homeowner can use to get the most out of active solar energy. Included are active solar space heating, active solar pool heating and active solar water heating.

According to Energy Type

The second means of viewing solar energy relies on the kind of energy that it converts into. There are 3 kinds that belong in this category namely photovoltaic solar power, solar thermal energy and concentrating solar power.

Active solar space heating is done to heat the air within the house. It uses mechanical tools and equipment like fans, pumps and blowers to help people gather, store and distribute the heat all over the home. The systems can be air-based or liquid-based. Liquid-based systems involve the use of large water tanks or thermal mass for the storage of heat. Distribution is managed through radiant slab systems, hot-water baseboards and central forced air systems. Air-based systems involve rock bins or thermal mass that hold the heated air for storing. The hot air is circulated within the home using blowers and ducts.

About the Energies

Solar thermal energy is the energy made by transforming solar energy into heat. There are plenty of solar applications that a homeowner can use to get the many benefits of solar thermal energy, such as solar space heating, solar pool heating, solar water heating and solar thermal cooling. Photovoltaic solar power is described as the energy made by converting solar power into electricity via photovoltaic solar cells. There are many solar applications that homeowners can take advantage of using photovoltaic power like solar electricity, photovoltaic solar lighting and photovoltaic cooling. Concentrating solar power or CSP is used to create solar power electricity.

The Use of Passive Solar Energy

There are two kinds of solar energy according to how the energy is converted. Active solar energy is defined as creating energy with the help of mechanical devices. Passive solar energy does not require the use of mechanical devices and provides you the advantage of getting energy nonstop and in a more cost-effective manner. Passive solar energy is further divided into different categories. Here are some more tips and guidelines on the kind.

On Orientation

There are a number of principles that you have to keep in mind to take advantage of passive solar energy fully. The applications will rely on the specific location and climate you belong to. Orientation refers to the positioning of the home so that you get most of the sun's rays to heat and minimize the impact for cooling. Shading is vital in managing the natural light and temperature of the home.

Shade can be given by other structural elements. Insulation refers to keeping a warm home during the winter and a cool house during the summer. Thermal mass refers to heat storage during daytime and its release after the sun is gone. The windows will make sure that the home stays comfortable any day of the year. Ventilation refers to maintaining the cool inside the home during extra hot days.

Passive Solar Heating

Passive solar heating belongs to the category of solar space heating. The heating process can be done by orienting the home well so that most of the windows face to the south. The windows should be sized properly too, so that optimal heat gain will be attained. The home has to be insulated to reduce loss of heat. Passive cooling is a kind of solar cooling. The main idea behind passive cooling is to reduce the impact of the sun by orienting the landscape and the house so that you get the most benefits out of cool breezes.

The home also has to be designed to reduce barriers to air paths through the home to let natural ventilation in. You need to use the right type and size of windows to reduce the heat during extra hot days. Landscaping and structural features can be used to make shade. The home also has to be insulated well to keep the right temperature.

On Daylighting

Daylighting is a kind of solar energy lighting. It is described as the use of natural light to illuminate the house. Good daylighting provides the right light to all your rooms, while minimizing costs in utilities and electricity. You can daylight the house well by sizing and positioning the windows so that natural light freely enters the home. You should also use exterior shading that will diffuse the light.

Passive solar energy is considered as a natural and very cost-effective way to maintain your home. You can save so much in the long run and expect to have the right light and temperature inside your home for years to come. Talk to experts on how you can install the right elements.

Should You Invest In Solar Energy

Solar power is quickly gaining popularity all over the globe. It is growing at a rate of 2% per year, and if the figures continue to grow, solar energy will be the preferred source of energy worldwide. Most modern nations are encouraging people to rely on this renewable resource so that they can save more and help conserve the environment. The trend can continue to provide benefits for decades to come if well-maintained. Here are some more tips and tricks.

About Location

First, you have to consider your current location. Are there a lot of clouds or does it rain or snow frequently? How much sunlight do you get per day? Some locations are very ideal for installing solar cell panels, while other people may do better with an electrical or battery source. Places that get around 4 to 6 hours of sunlight per day at least can do well with a solar energy system. Preferably, tropical and desert areas should start investing in a solar energy system to get the most benefits. Determine the angle of the sun to know which spots are most ideal for installation.

About Resource

Are there any available hardware stores that offer the needed parts for your solar energy system setup? Will ordering online be easy and convenient? Are there agencies or professionals who can offer reliable and quality services to install and maintain the solar cell panels. Are the materials affordable and of good quality? These are some questions you need to consider to get the best deals. Ordering online will depend on your location and the mode of transportation. If you think that setting up and maintaining the system will be difficult, it might be better to wait until the technology is more rampant in your area.

About Budget

Solar cell systems are generally costly in the beginning. Later on, you will realize that the costs will start to go down, since the energy stemming from the sun is free and available all the time. You should consider your budget by determining the area that needs to be covered with solar panels. Budget is vital so that you do not go overboard and overspend on things that you do not truly need. You should also consider the gadgets and devices that will be powered via solar means.

Longevity

A well-maintained solar energy system will last for 30 years if you keep it properly. Other setups may only last for a number of months or weeks at most if external conditions are very harsh or can damage the material easily. You can choose to create your own solar cells or just purchase from a source. The longevity of the setup will depend on the quality of the material, the use and applications. Price does not immediately equate to quality or longevity. You should know more about the available brands and check if there are any differences with regards to feature that will ultimately enhance the lifespan. Ask for recommendations from friends and others who have tried the setup.

To learn more about Solar Energy visit Solar Energy Terminal

I am a researcher, investor, marketer, business owner, web designer, I.T Manager, article writer, and like to provide people with as much information as I can about spacific subjets.

Why are people really turning on to solar energy?

2011-07-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

Is it because of environmental concerns?

Is it because of the never ending energy price rises?

Overwhelmingly, our customers have told us that while these are important considerations, the single most important reason is the incredible government backed financial incentive called the Feed in Tariff. The incentive doesn't just make the average household around Â£1,000 better off every year. It delivers a tax free return on investment of 8 - 10%. It's index linked and guaranteed by the government for 25 years. Some customers describe it as a no brainer because in today's economic climate it's an extraordinary offer. If your bank offered to pay you even the conservative 8%, how much would you invest?

The Sunday Times is even more optimistic when it says "Given that the income is tax-free, the return on investment is equivalent to 12.9% for a 50% taxpayer and 10.3% for a 40% taxpayer, with the investment recouped in as little as seven years."

While the Independent says "The Government has confirmed that tariffs will be paid for up to 25 years, and, as the tariffs are linked to inflation, the real rate of return could end up as high as 10 per cent."

If you prefer the straight talking Martin Lewis, he says "The Government's promised that the feed-in tariff payment for solar panels will run for 25 years and will rise with inflation. It's also tax-free. So for a c.Â£12,000 outlay, you get back Â£23,000 - that's Â£11,000 profit."

The environmental benefits are plain. The Energy Savings Trust says "you can cut your carbon footprint with solar electricity as it's a green, renewable energy and doesn't release any harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) or other pollutants. A typical home system could save around 1 tonne of CO2 per year."

We all know that energy prices continue to increase and according to the Office of National Statistics Forecasts 2010 to 2014, "Electricity prices will increase 7% per annum plus 3% inflation, during the next few years"

More and more UK homeowners are choosing solar panels for their home. The Feed in Tariff is seen by many as a government grant, it's that attractive. Of course our customers want to save money off their energy bills, but they're also looking to the future. They care about the environment and where they can invest their hard earned savings. With the financial markets at an all time low, the UK Feed in Tariff has presented them with the ideal answer: photovoltaic solar energy.

Reflect Energy provides cost effective solar energy for homes in the UK. Reflect Energy uses advanced Photovoltaic solar panels and Solar thermal panels. Visit the website for free expert advice on solar panels for your home

Beware Solar Energy By 2012

2011-06-30T23:34:00.000-07:00

Beware Solar Energy By 2012

I don't know about 2012, I have seen the movie, I have read the books, were supposed to get a radiation or electromagnet super wave from the sun that winters year, it makes for entertainment I guess, but more important is collecting the energy the sun is putting out right as I write this, and has for millions of years.

It sits in the skies every day staring down at us with more power and energy than even the smartest man on earth or working for Nasa can figure out. We have figured out how to harness this energy, yet every day, every winter we struggle with drilling oil, dealing with foreign countries about the prices their gouging us on the fossil fuel that is pumped out their land, this all so un-necessary.

One of the problems is we keep waiting for the corporations and governments to get the ball rolling, we know how slow governments can be and corporations are quite happy with the status quo, the oil companies and the countries their dealing are making a fortune on are hard earned money. So the change that needs to happen has to be from the home owners, and it should start happening in this country now, it is happening in other countries right now, were unfortunately on the tail end of a very important movement.

Countries like Australia, New Zealand and such are way ahead of American in the energy conversion movement. Japan is also way ahead of the U.S., the American people are used to being pioneers in technological movements and it does not make sense for to be lagging behind so many countries, granted were still a great country but were not the head way makers of old, and our economy, the employment environment here is hurting, all you have to do for proof is read the papers or watch TV.

Success Solar Group is aware of this dilemma and is in the process of educating and getting out the story via the internet to as many people as we can. Many people still don't even question the status of were we stand in the energy race, and that's what were in, a race to convert from fossil fuel to new sources of energy, our current energy source is so tied up in oil, and the supply of oil is dwindling at an alarming rate, 20 years from now this country could be in big trouble! We need to act now; we need mass conversions taking place starting today if were going to make even second place.

Nobody knows what's going to happen in 2012, but we do know we'll be much farther behind in the energy race if we don't start converting from our old energy source to a more economic and infinite source. The sun seems like the most sensible answer, scientists are looking into wind farms, and hydrogen converters but they have not been developed to the point of mass deployment.

Solar energy systems are here now and ready, solar panels have been around awhile now, so have Photovoltaic systems, these systems have been proven and countries and companies are deploying them right now, they have been adapted for home conversions and are affordable. So what are we waiting for, and that's were Success Solar Group comes in, we have the resources and contacts to connect home owners with the right equipment and contractors best suited for the work, we have screened these contractors, we have done the research for you and have compiled a list of the best vendors and qualified contractors. Visit our website today.

http://www.SuccessSolarGroup.org
Johnny Solar
Born in Phoenix, AZ
Solar soluton developer

Energy Corporation Association
Affiliated Green Earth Guide

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Solar Energy and Nuclear Power; Which is Better?

2011-06-29T23:50:00.000-07:00

It is given that Nuclear Energy is a real breakthrough in energy production, whether it is fusion or fission nuclear energy produces enormous amounts of energy that are powering major cities in progressive countries like Japan, Russia, France, United States and a lot more.

However, Nuclear plants comes with a hefty price tag, the construction of a plant can cost hundreds of millions of dollars if not billions and the real problem is the maintenance and security risks that it involves. Scientists and nuclear engineers are needed to run the plant and the plant produces substantial amounts of radioactive materials which creates serious environmental problems.

The waste is a lifelong commitment which keeps will piling up, and where do you get rid of it afterwards?

Security issues in nuclear power plants are in two aspects. The 1st is within the operation; it releases radioactive materials thus the reason you need a vast open unpopulated space for the construction and operation. Take the Fukushima plant in Japan for an instance, in the case it was seriously damaged the casualties are unimaginable!2nd is the wastes; if in any case it leaks out it can alter our eco-system before we even know it - affecting marine life, all our wild life and YOU!

To sum it up, it costs a gazillion dollar to construct, requires heavy operational management, Waste disposal issues and numerous security risks. - Not so bad eh? Keeping it is quite rubbish!
On the other hand; Solar energy doesn't contain any of the drawbacks a nuclear plant has. It is cheaper - much cheaper, renewable and clean. Clean in a holistic sense, zero carbon emission and zero waste by- products.

If you are to compare the energy production between the two, solar energy would be a step behind the latter. But if you are to compare the two in dollar per kilowatt then there isn't much of a difference. The key to the solar success is decentralisationâ�¦â�¦â�¦. Homes can produce their own electricity in a safe and greener way.

But the greatest benefits of solar panels would be dramatic electric bill reduction! Studies shows that solar electric system would out produce nuclear power plants before the closing of the century. In Australia, present and past administrations have opted for renewable energy from solar power because of its abundant sunlight, but solar technology has progressed now to where it is used widely even in much colder European countries. Nearly all nations now have access to abundant renewable energy sources; it is just a matter of embracing it. Nowâ�¦â�¦... You decide, go dirty and expensive or clean and cheap?

Facts about the Sun and Solar Energy

2011-06-28T06:43:00.000-07:00

Solar energy primarily only requires the power of the sun. The sun is the center of our solar system, and some consider it as the largest star in the world. It is almost perfectly spherical in shape, has a diameter of about 1,392,000 km, (as compared with the Earth which has a diameter of 12 756km) and a mass of about 2Ã�1030 kilograms, 330,000 times that of Earth. The outer layer of the sun is called Photospheres and appears mottled because of the turbulent eruption of energy on its surface.

The core of the sun is about 25% of its total diameter, 347,500 km, and it is considered the hottest part of the sun, with a temperature of 15,000,000Â° C or 27,000,000Â° F! The core also the area of the sun where solar energy takes place, which is considered to be a nuclear reaction. This nuclear reaction creates nuclei to fuse together to then produce alpha particles and the helium nucleus. This mass is expelled to become energy, and carried to the sun's surface through the process of convection.

Convection is the movement of molecules through liquids and gas, but not through solids because no significant diffusion can take place in solid forms. Convection is the major mode whereby heat and mass are able to be transferred, and this heat produced by the sun is ultimately used by us in the production of electricity via photovoltaic cells in solar panels.

Solar panel is one of the newest ways that we have of producing electricity on a large scale, and it is also one of the most preferred alternatives because it is user friendly for many reasons.

One primarily reason is that it is natural and produces less pollution as compared to our common fossil fuel derived sources of electricity. Also it is much cheaper, is renewable, and always readily available. The only cost is the initial purchase and installation, but if you add up the expenses from your monthly electricity bill you will come to realize that you can save much more than you expected; depending on the KWh size of the solar panel system you install it will pay for itself within 4-7 years, and keep producing clean solar energy for you for at least 20.

Solar panels are now widely use all over the world, and as it has becomes a more and more desirable alternative energy source a lot of companies are dedicating extensive research into how to improve the manufacture and construction. Every year solar power is becoming more convenient, more productive & cost effective to use, and more readily available to average consumers.

Conservation of Fossil Fuels: Solar Energy Products

2011-06-27T17:18:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time sun, the king of this universe was center of a man's life which governed laws of mankind. The rising of the sun for a villager meant the beginning of his day with its monotonous activities and the setting of the sun meant end of the daily cores. Man in that era was a complete dependent on sun be it harvesting of the crops, the sowing and ploughing of fields or may be to complete his long journeys to distant marketplaces to sell or exchange his goods and grains.

As the social and economic conditions changed the farmer or the villager moved out of the village and in search of better prospects moved towards the cities which were booming with technological advances. With each generation there was more mechanization of human life which led to our present 21st century in which today for almost every human activity we are dependent on machines.

Where on one hand today these machines are producing excellent results for human beings and making their lives more comfortable on the other hand there are also harmful to an extent. An interesting discovery is the solar energy products, we go back to the villager depending on the sun for assistance, and same is the case here. With the invention of solar energy products man has again returned to his basics.

The rapid change in America's energy situation with increasing threats of Global warming, many weather disruptions and continuous damage to the atmosphere is uniting the world's nations in their fuel consumptions. Expectant oil crises and wars foretell severe economic and geopolitical results. With the increasing public demand, Arizona started acquiring privately owned vicinities to start using solar energy and other more sustainable, people-friendly technologies.

Tucson Solar region in Arizona is one of the greatest achievements which has greatly revolutionized the need of solar energy products. The Solar Tucson has started expanding its reputation in solar energy and sustainable building programs and it seems it will provide a great future to this sector.

The harvesting of solar energy is cost effective and also reduces your dependence on other foreign fuels. Besides this various disastrous effects like the greenhouse effect can also be controlled by installing solar energy products. The principle used in these products is in complete harmony with the environment and also prevents the conservation of exhaustible fuels which nature gifted to man when he was born on earth.

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http://sonorasolarsolutions.com

What Are Some Of The Benefits Of Solar Energy

2011-06-26T04:36:00.000-07:00

It's time that everyone takes an active role in considering the environment, especially in regards to what can be done as far as energy sources are considered. Using up our fossil fuels is no longer a good or viable option so it is important for communities down to the last person to look into reforming how they get their energy and therefore electricity. Being responsible to the environment in this situation is a solution that will also benefit a homeowner's pocket book.

Tax Implications

Besides the innumerable benefits that come along with using solar energy as far as budget and environmental concerns, there are also the benefits of being able to claim these improvements on end of the year tax statements. There are many claims a person can make at the end of the year if they show they have taken measures to get their home more energy efficient. It's possible to offset the cost of installing solar energy in the first year and get benefits in years to come.

Saving Or Even Making Money With Solar Energy

Using solar power to sustain a home and keep electricity needs met can decrease monthly expenditures on energy, even to the point of eliminating bills completely. That's not all though, if a home is set up in an efficient manner with excellent solar panels it is possible for the home to collect enough surplus energy that they can actually sell it back to the electricity companies. This can turn the investment into a money making endeavor. There are also companies that offer money making opportunities by referring friends and family to this fantastic way to fulfill energy needs. It allows a person to put their finances to use investing in their own home rather than dumping it in an electrical company.

Environmental And Economic Reasons

Producing clean and affordable energy of their own accord is very good for the environment. Not using up natural resources, and producing enough energy for their own needs, and even enough for other homes also can go a long way to helping out with the energy crisis. This electricity is clean, pollution free and free of cost. In addition to all these benefits for the environment, producing solar energy can also be fantastic for the economy. Creating energy from renewable resources can make it possible for America to no longer need to get their electricity from foreign sources. This can create more employment opportunities in their local area. By creating local jobs it helps to put money back into the economy, right here at home. With the damage that everyone has been dealing with in the economy having more jobs and money flow can stimulate everyone's economy. This is a great trickle effect that will help people in all sorts of areas of the market, not just the environmental energy planning. With this many reasons it seems almost silly to not consider getting solar energy as soon as possible, and make the right investment for their family.

JB Solar offers Solar Panels, solar kits, wholesale solar panels and solar inverters for residential and commercial installation. For details visit http://www.jbsolarcorp.com

Australia Making Great Strides With Solar Energy

2011-06-25T17:30:00.000-07:00

Australia is one of the leading nations to make the switch for solar energy and finally get rid of dirty and polluted fossil fuel combustions. Thanks to the efforts of the government to encourage the use of solar power through rebates and incentives there has been an exponential rise in the number of its citizens & businesses making the switch to renewable energy. Statistics shows that Australia is one of the countries that have less carbon emission, though we are a progressive nation with a lot of manufacturing & industry.

Australia was blessed in almost every way to triumph in the search for renewable and clean energy. The country's geographical position andweather conditions made it highly favourable for solar panels whether it is for home or commercial applications. The sun hours are long, wet season and cloudy days are less likely throughout the year, and solar panel system owners can maximize their energy production whole year round. Another physical characteristic that the country has is that the average home space of 200 square meters per home makesdecentralisation of energy production viable.

Aside from physical capacities the country also caters to another very important aspect in making any project a success, you guessed it right, funding! The Nation has one of the most comprehensive solar rebates and incentives schemes in the world, and though there is news that the solar multiplier will go down from 5 to 4 and will decrease more over the years, the scheme is still favorable and solar is making an excellent economic investment. The feed in tariff scheme in place also makes a very good deal for its citizens to make the switch to solar energy.

There are exciting times ahead in the next 5 years, as Australia is catching up to the world leaders in the large scale production of clean energy through massive solar energy parks, and the looming Carbon Tax provides strong incentive for industry to reduce their carbon emissionsâ�¦.. Every day home owners also have the opportunity to reduce or even eliminate their electric bills and reduce their carbon footprints as well, which is the primary global concern. This large switch to solar energy is also expected to lift economic growth and provide many new jobs, as well as provide individuals with lesser burden of bills and an opportunity for a new avenue of income via the tariffs.

Solar Energy Facts the Future of Australian Homes and Cities

2011-06-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

If you compare the dimension of the earth to the sun, you can comfortably fit over 1 million Earths inside it! If you are fascinated by the force of the earth's gravity then beware of the colossal sun's gravitational pull; the enormous pressure pulverises molecules, breaking them up into smaller components, and this breakdown produces a great deal of energy combined with other molecular components, which reaches the earth in 8.3 minutes in the form of sunlight. - Then the magic starts!

The sunlight carries two types of energy; the 1st is the light energy, which can then be manipulated by the solar PV panels to produce electricity, and the 2nd is heat energy which used by the solar hot water systems to produce a continuous flow of hot water.

The major challenge that we face with solar energy is that the sunlight isn't available for 24 hours and even in the daytime continuous supply isn't guaranteed, due to many factors. However countries like Australia are blessed with more than enough sunlight strength to provide useful energy production in summer even on cloudy days. The growth of solar technology has been rapid; if you turn your clock back a few decades ago, harnessing the sun's energy wasn't possible in any way, but today we have solar PV technology as the prime carrier of solar energy's viability.

Australia is one of the leading nations in solar technological advances. Not only do we have perfect climatic conditions, but also the geographical capabilities and knowledge; Australia gave birth to the top solar scientist in world! But one major disadvantage to our widespread use of solar technology was the very size of our country and the logistical difficulties to overcome because of that, and so our earlier advancements got bogged down due to financial difficulties and other countries soon overtook us.

Fortunately though in the last couple of years extensive Government funding combined with technological breakthroughs has made solar energy much cheaper to obtain and so more accessible to every householder. Also rapid improvements in manufacturing technology means it's now possible to have much better power generation from the same size of panel system, so that an average roof space is more likely to be able to produce enough power to cover a considerable portion of your existing electricity bill.

Aside from household Solar use becoming more and more widespread, the really exciting news for both our environment and the Australian economy are the large commercial aspects now being pursued; huge scale commercial solar power parks are being established in an attempt to generate the massive clean energy production necessary for large corporations to be able to bypass our dependence on traditional fossil fuel "dirty" energy sources, mainly coal.

This is where the proposed Carbon Tax will be hugely influential as it is designed to make it cheaper for industry and corporations to purchase clean renewable solar energy using "Solar Credits" then to continue to use electricity produced via dirty energyâ�¦â�¦.we will have to wait and see exactly what happens in Parliament for that one, but certainly this scheme or something similar seems the only likely way for Australia to meet their emission target requirements for 2020.

Solar Energy for Marines Means Less Burden and More Power

2011-06-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

The US marines, who are required to carry heavy loads of ammunition along with equipment and heavy batteries, will soon be getting easy to carry solar power panels that can energize their equipment. These roll-up solar panels with the size of a placemat can reduce the marines' burden of heavy battle gear to a great extent, says SunFusion Solar.

The US Marines' dependency on batteries and generators for charging their equipment like the GPS, radios and other devices has increased their energy needs manifold since the early 1990s. Compared to their counterparts from the 1990s, today's marines carry a number of new equipments like laptops, GPS devices, radios, and other electronic gear that are recharged by the power from generators that run on fuel. This is why, of all the fuel that goes to Afghanistan, almost 30% is used by these generators.

Although the US forces are more lethal today than earlier, they consume vast amounts of energy at the same time. This has resulted in increasing the number of re-supplies and in overloading the soldiers and marines on the field. Carrying heavy loads of batteries, around 20 pounds, to recharge their equipment makes it more difficult for the marines to perform their duties in dangerous and hostile environments.

According to SunFusion Solar, this reflects the need to use renewable energy, like solar energy, to generate electricity for charging military gear on field. Although the U.S military has been researching on renewable energy for more than ten years, the project had gained momentum only when the number of causalities on fuel trucks going into Afghanistan increased.

So, instead of waiting for a complete practical solution to the energy problems on the battlefield, the marine leaders worked on providing at least 80% solution immediately. As a result, the Office of Naval Research came up with a solution in the form of portable solar-and-battery powered panels that can be transported easily, used in rugged conditions and are enough to charge the entire combat post's gear.

These solar panels have been first used and tested by the India Company, which is a part of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. The marines of this company have successfully used the individual solar panels with a set of solar powered hybrid generators to recharge their personal equipment for three weeks. This also hints at the possibility of bigger bases being powered by larger solar panels in the future.

According to a representative of SunFusion Solar, the U.S military has exemplified to the rest of the nation on how to create greener energy solutions by tapping the abundant energy of the Sun.

About the Company

As a professional solar energy company, SunFusion Solar aims at providing the best solar products and services at affordable rates to all their customers. The company is licensed and specializes in PV (photovoltaic) solar panel systems for various settings such as - residential houses, commercial settings, and farms (agricultural and winery). SunFusion Solar is contributing to solve the world's energy problems and encouraging the use of solar energy by providing excellent quality solar products and long term solar energy solutions to its customers.

For more information, please visit SunFusion Solar.

Transforming Parking Lots into Solar Energy Plants Could Be a Revolutionary Idea

2011-06-22T17:23:00.000-07:00

One of the recent developments in the solar energy industry is the possibility of transforming the underutilized car parking lots into productive solar power plants. A solar powered parking lot canopy is an innovative structural change, which is most suitable for businesses and large institutions that are considering the options of renewable energy. According to SunFusion Solar, the rapid growth of the solar energy industry, due to the recent tax incentives that encourage use of fossil fuel alternatives, is the reason for this development.

The economic incentives have also led to the availability of investment capital and decrease in the cost of PV (photovoltaic) panels and installation systems, which has made solar powered parking lots an economical option for many businesses. This structural innovation is soon expected to turn the vast stretches of concrete parking lot canopies (PLC) into solar energy plants that also provide shade to the vehicles.

The solar powered PLCs are elevated structures that can be installed over parking areas, either alone or in combination with ground and rooftop ranges of photovoltaic panels. These PV panels can be used for generating electric power supply that can increase the available energy resources of the institution or business. In comparison to the ground or rooftop solar panels, PLCs can have a greater cost per installed watt. However, considering the life-expectancy of the rooftop or ground solar panel, a PLC is more economical in the long run.

A number of businesses today are setting up parking lot canopies, but there are two major solar power generators in the nation that are currently in the news. One is the 2.7 megawatt solar power generation facility at the William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ, which is estimated to save around $3.3 million in energy costs. The other is the 1.56 megawatt canopy at the Cincinnati Zoo, the largest urban PLC accessible by public, which can shelter around 1000 parking places.

Very soon, the practice of using parking lots for solar power generation would become commonplace. But PLCs can be challenging to construct considering the various factors like height of the structure, ground conditions etc which play an important role in determining its strength and durability. Which is why, care should be taken when hiring a solar energy consultant as the intricacies of creating a PLC can be efficiently handled only by an expert in the field.

According to SunFusion Solar, the developing trend of PLCs has also sparked an interest in many individuals to use solar energy for generating electricity to their homes and offices. With the rise in demand, the amount of solar energy generated is estimated to increase from 10MW a year in 2010 to 15-20 MW a year by 2011.

SunFusion Solar

SunFusion Solar is a licensed company that specializes in designing and installing photovoltaic panels for homes, offices, farms and Vineyards. The company aims at providing the best quality solar energy products and services at affordable prices. With its aim of achieving 100% customer satisfaction, SunFusion Solar provides committed service when it comes to bringing solar power to your house.

For more information, please visit SunFusion Solar.

Solar energy industry is facing big challenge

2011-06-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, renewable energy was not getting people's attention. But for the past two years, non-renewable energy was not steadily supplied and the oil price keeps rising up. Energy issues become to constrain nationalÃ¢â�¬â�¢s economic development. In response to high oil prices, countries around the world launched a new energy strategy, which is to seek for a new driving force for economic development. Therefore, the renewable energy like bio-energy, solar energy, wind energy and other new energy products are being developed by all countries. Even though the renewable energy development has a bright future, it also has to face some challenges.

The shortage of silicon is restricting the development of solar energy industry.

As the best energy in all new energy industry, solar energy is being developed by all counties.
On August 18th, Australia Queensland governor was in one solar plant in Nevada. He said they will establish cooperation relationship with Nevada. Queensland will build a solar industry park to reduce Queensland's dependence on coal-fired power generation. Not long time ago, the Israeli electricity management department pronounce: From July, People who install the solar power electricity system can sell their surplus electricity to National Grid for approx us0.6/W

It will cost about us$8,800 to in stall a solar electricity system that has 10kilowattsÃ¢â�¬â�¢s generating capacity. In this way, if people sell the electricity to National Grid, they will be able to pay off the system for less than 10 years. At the same time, Israeli public authority will offer solar security systems for solar power equipment to support private solar electricity systemÃ¢â�¬â�¢s installation.

Samsung Economic Research Institute predict that the money in the world solar power market will increase from 15 billion us dollar in 2005 to 36.1 billion us dollar in 2010.In South Korea, the 2007 domestic solar power generation capacity is about 44 megawatts. This year, it is expected to go up to 100 megawatts. It will increase to 4000 megawatts by 2010.

But in fact, all the solar energy companies are facing tough cost challenges. Along with the rapid development of industry, silicon price is rising up crazily. According to the data, it was US 300 dollar per kilogram on 2006.But in 2007, it comes up to us 400 dollar per kilogram. With the rapid expansion of domestic energy industry, the silicon price will keep going up. The cost of solar energy panel will also be greatly raised!

Experts say that one watt electricity from solar systemÃ¢â�¬â�¢s cost is about 0.6 us dollar.And the fuel generation cost is less than 0.2us dollar. Since the silicon price is so high, the solar power cost will be more than 0.6 us dollar. Somebody predicted that oil price will go up to 200 U.S. dollars per barrel, and oil power generation cost will be about 0.4 us dollar. Solar power cost is still higher than the cost of fuel power generation.

In conclusion, while we are developing our economy, we should pay attention to protect our environment! Governments should support the renewable energy industryÃ¢â�¬â�¢s development by all means! So that we can live on a nice earth!

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Some Disadvantages of Solar Energy

2011-06-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

The solar energy is proving to be the best alternative source for producing energy. But as they say all things invented have their own disadvantages or bad side; this article will discuss some of the disadvantages that solar energy has.

The main disadvantage that solar energy has for many people would be the initial installation cost. The initial set-up of the equipment has in the past has been too much for an average family but things have improved now with reduced prices & generous government subsidies & rebates available.

Solar energy is still the best clean renewable alternative source to use compared the available dirty fossil fuel technologies. With the price of the solar panels continuing to decrease with improved technology and more widespread manufacturing there is likely to be a widespread increase the use of the solar cells to generate electricity for both home and industrial purposes.

Another disadvantage of solar energy installation is that it requires a large available area (generally roof space) for the system to a high enough KWh size to be efficient in providing a large source of electricity. This can be a problem in high density urban areas where space is minimal and often expensive to own as well in some cities. High Pollution can also cause a disadvantage to the solar panels as it can degrade the efficiency of the photovoltaic cells.

Clouds also give a similar disadvantage, as clouds lessen the energy of the sun rays. These disadvantages were more pronounced with the older solar components and designs however, and the newer designs of solar panels have features that lessen these kinds of effectsâ�¦... As we already know solar energy needs the sunlight to produce and convert energy into electricity so solar panels can only be useful during the day and at night your expensive solar equipment is useless. However, the use of solar battery chargers helps to reduce this disadvantage, or even better in Australia & Germany there are effective Feed In Tariff programs that allow people to sell their solar produced electricity during the day at a profit & buy fossil fuel produced electricity at night for a cheaper rate.

It's important that solar panels are properly placed where they can get the maximum amount of direct sunlight so that your systems optimal output can be reached. Obviously Solar panels should not be placed in an area that has obstructions like buildings and landscaping, and the direction & aspect of the roof is also very important. Make sure your solar system is installed by an experienced and accredited installer.

So these are the disadvantages of making the switch to renewable solar energy. People should always consider the positive or the advantages of solar energy. At this point in our environmental crisis solar energy is proving to be one of the greatest invention of mankind, and it is set to become even more crucial and bigger in the future!

Professional Solar Energy Consultants

2011-06-19T02:41:00.000-07:00

A report had recently stated that solar power is now cheaper than nuclear power, especially where there is abundant sunlight. Which is why, if you are a resident of California, you should consider switching to solar energy systems for enjoying a number of benefits. Of the many solar energy consultants in San Diego, California, SunFusion Solar is among the top three. Established in 2008, SunFusion is a licensed solar contracting company that provides comprehensive services for energizing your home, office or farm space at affordable costs.

Why Go Solar

It is simply the light and heat produced by the Sun. which can be converted into electricity using the PV or photovoltaic panels made up of PV cells. By tapping that energy through the solar energy system, you can produce electricity for usage in your home, office or any commercial set up. This saves you a lot of money on electricity bills, which can be high considering the high costs of fuel and nuclear energy.

Besides that, you can take advantage of the incentives offered by the federal and state governments for switching to renewable energy systems, including solar energy. Also, a solar energy system adds value to your property and generates clean electricity that helps in making the planet a cleaner and greener place.

What SunFusion Has to Offer

If you really want to benefit by installing an energy system, you should consider hiring SunFusion Solar for the job. Committed to achieving 100% customer satisfaction, SunFusion provides top quality equipment and installation service that ensures you lasts as long as 30 to 40 years.

Free Energy Assessment

SunFusion is a professional solar energy contracting company that provides a thorough assessment of your property before installing the system. So if you want to check whether or not your house is suitable for installing a PV panel system, SunFusion can provide a free energy assessment and estimation for your home or office. In addition to that, SunFusion can also help you understand the benefits of using solar energy systems and how you can reduce your costs with it.

Top Quality Products and Installation Services

SunFusion Solar is a full service company that takes care of every aspect from designing the solar panel system to bringing electricity to your home. After the energy assessment, it provides you with a blueprint that provides detailed information about the panel's design and architecture.

The solar energy panels are installed by the company's employees who are electricians and roofers with a lot of experience in the field. They ensure complete installation of the system, and also provide instructions on how to make the best use of this energy for reduced costs.

Five Year Warranty

Besides all this, SunFusion Solar offers a warranty for five years, whereas the other companies in the region provide only 1 to 2 years of guaranteed service. This means that if you should ever have a problem within five years, SunFusion offers free of cost service and fixes the problem immediately.

For more information, please visit SunFusion Solar.

Generating Electricity For Home With Solar Panels

2011-06-18T03:41:00.000-07:00

The solar power panels functions with the help of sunlight to create electricity with the photovoltaic effect. When light is absorbed by a semiconductor such as silicon then electrons within the material increases its energy. This increased energy causes the electrons to maneuver inside the material. However, there has to be charge carriers in order for the electrons to maneuver inside a preferred direction to produce an electric current. Charge carriers are made by doping the semiconductor, which means adding small amounts of impurities to change the material's electrical properties.

Solar cells become less efficient at higher temperatures and so it's desirable to reduce heat within the panels. Not many cell modules incorporate any design features to diminish temperature, but installers try to provide good ventilation behind these panels. Silicon is an element with four valence electrons and this means that whenever a silicon atom bonds along with other silicon atoms, they complete their valence shells by sharing all electrons. Doping silicon involves adding small amounts of a material with three valence electrons or a material along with five valence electrons. With the addition of a small amount of aluminum, for example, an atom with three valence electrons and covalent bonding of the aluminum to silicon creates 'holes'. A 'hole' may be the absence of an electron where there would normally be one if there was no impurity bonded to silicon, which ends in a positive type silicon semiconductor. Adding a tiny bit of an atom with five valence electrons, for example antimony causes an effect that's opposite. Once antimony is bonded to other silicon atoms, you will see an extra electron that's loosely bound to antimony that will result in a negative type silicon semiconductor. Introduction of a voltage to either kind of semiconductor causes current to move inside a direction that's preferred.

The cell modules make use of a layer of positive type silicon and a layer of negative type silicon. This way, when light is absorbed and also the electrons within the negative type layer rise in energy, the electrons will be able to travel from the negative type layer towards the 'holes' within the positive type layer. This electrical current allows solar panel technology to transform light energy into electricity. Silicon based solar power panels modules aren't the sole kind of solar cells. Other forms range from the panels which use conductive polymers or light absorbing dyes.
Gerald possess a background education in architecture and have not too long ago done some freelance work on consulting for the growing business of eco-friendly and renewable energy. You can learn more about the off grid solar panel kits right here on his site.

Solar Panels For Your Home Which Panels To Buy

2011-06-17T16:47:00.000-07:00

There are basically two types of solar energy for residential use and each has advantages and disadvantages. There are solar panels which heat water which can be used in the house or for a swimming pool. Then there are solar panels with photovoltaic cells which can generate electricity.

The cheaper option is solar heating panels which just heat water. They cannot be used for central heating or electricity generation. The system works by changing radiation from the sun into heat. It does not, therefore need direct sunlight to work and can even work on cloudy days. The household water will be heated by the panels during the day and switch to the boiler at night. The saving from this type of system is thought to be around fifteen percent of energy costs.

Solar panels which use photovoltaic cells can change the heat from the sun into electricity. They are more expensive but can save the average household around twice as much as heating panels. You can also get Government grants in many countries to help with the initial costs. You will need to have a decent amount of space on the roof to have them and work out how many you will need. You can have the main part of the system installed and add extra panels later. If you reach a point where the panels are generating excess power then you can either store it or sell it to power companies.

Recent advances in solar power technology have made both systems more efficient so that the amount of heat or power they create from the sunlight is more. For solar heating systems there are now evacuated tubes which collect more heat. If you live in a cold climate you can get them insulated to prevent loss of heat as the day gets cooler.

Photovoltaic cells have undergone several changes since they were first sold. You will find 3 types of cell to choose from all made in a different way. The most efficient are the Monocrystalline cells which have an efficiency rating between fifteen to twenty percent. They are the most expensive type but may be worth the investment.

When deciding which type of solar energy to have in your home you will need to consider the location as this may limit your choice. You should also think about how much hot water or electricity your household uses. The output for panels is given as a peak power rating calculated in a standardized test. It is best to research well and ask advice from professionals about exactly what to buy and what you can expect to get from it.

You will find there are many things to think about when choosing solar panels for your home. It is a good idea to spend some time researching and getting advice from different vendors to make the most of your investment.

Thanks for reading my article. To find out more, and to read the original article head over to Which Solar Panels For Your Home. Or to learn more about every aspect of Solar Panels For Your Home head on over to my website.

Build Your Own Solar Panels And Start To Make Free Energy

2011-06-16T00:54:00.000-07:00

Solar power for homes used to be very expensive, and getting a professional installation could still cost you thousands of dollars and take years to see a return on your investment. However it is now possible to build your own solar panels and provide homemade solar power for far less than it would have previously cost you in the past. This is thanks to solar panel kits and the detailed instruction guides that are now widely available.

Homemade solar power used to consist of small panels that did not produce the wattage necessary to power more than a few lights or some of the smaller appliances around the home. These days with the improvements in the whole solar power systems the most effective way to provide solar power for homes (if you can’t afford a professional installation) is to build your own solar panels with the aid of a solar panel kit. These homemade solar power kits come with everything you need to successfully build your own solar panels so that you can make free energy for your home.

These solar panel kits are easy to find thanks to the internet, companies like GE are producing these kits and the build your own solar panels sets are very affordable and will help you to see a quicker return on your initial outlay, as well as allowing you to make free energy for your home in a very short time. With just a few minutes surfing of the internet you will be able to find dozens of kits available at differing prices.

You can also find detailed guides and instruction manuals on the internet that allow you to build your own solar panels from start to finish. With these guides to follow you can produce solar power for homes by making your own personalised solar power system with parts that you can buy at local hardware stores.

This way may take you a little longer as you have to buy all the parts you will need but it can work out even cheaper than the kits, and as they are very easy to follow anyone can put their own system together quickly and easily. Plus at the finish you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have produced your very own homemade solar power.

So if you want to make free energy for your home as well as doing your bit for the environment by reducing your personal carbon footprint you should build your own solar panels. By producing your own homemade solar power you will soon be saving a fortune as well.
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What You Should Know About Solar Panel Installation

2011-06-15T15:33:00.000-07:00

Solar energy is becoming very popular these days. Many homeowners are choosing this green form of energy to produce electricity and power some of their home appliances. How do you get these panels? They are actually produced by many manufacturers. The prices may slightly differ from one company to another. They can also be purchased online. Once you buy them you can follow these simple solar panel installation tips to make the whole procedure very easy.

Most homeowners prefer to install them on the rooftop of their home. Some people like to install them as stand-alone facilities in their backyard. The most important thing you have to remember while installing is that they have to be placed in a location where they can absorb maximum sunlight all around the year. You can refer to various solar resource guides that will help you to install them by tracking the sun's position during the year in your area.

To get maximum performance it is very essential to install these devices in areas where they can get maximum light during the day. If there is any obstruction it will hinder the process and affect the performance of the panel. Check the location and remove all unwanted items that are falling in between the panels and light.

You have to use the solar panel mounts to install these devices. They come in three different types - flush mounts, pole mounts and roof-ground mounts. By using these three types of mounts you can easily install them anywhere such as on your rooftop, on an RV, against a pole or even as a free standing device. You need to choose the right kind of mount according to the location.

The best method for solar panel installation is to use the assistance of a well trained professional. Since some wiring may be required you may not be able to do it alone. When the installation is done by a professional you can avoid accidents as well. Once you have decided to use green energy in your home, you can look for an expert to help you with the installation. By using the sun's energy you will be contributing to a greener earth as well.
Are you interested in solar panels installation? Be sure to visit my site to find out how to make solar panels.

The Fundamentals Of Solar Panels For Homes

2011-06-14T22:39:00.000-07:00

Depending on your desired electric output, the energy from the sun can be converted from twelve or twenty-four DC volts using a transformer into 220 or 240 volts. An critical part of solar-based systems is the control element that shuts down power automatically in order to save your battery. Some systems include a display so that you can monitor if the batteries and solar panels are working properly.

You can choose different solar panels for homes and RV, depending on how you would like to use the solar energy. If you and your family often engage in outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, trekking or back packing, you can benefit from foldable solar energy panels that are designed to be light, compact and they fold in half. These kinds of panels adapt perfectly in any kind of requirement and application as portable devices.

How to Pick Solar Panels for Homes

Each kind of solar panel is rated depending on the output power. Based on ideal conditions, 75 watts in a solar energy panel can produce 75 watts of usable electricity. However, different factors may cut back the electricity production in over half of the perfect 75 watts.

Be aware that the kind of solar panels for homes you choose will depend on what functions you want it to serve. If you need a solar panels for home, you will need to mount the solar energy panel on your roof to receive the energy at once from the sun. The size of the panel will seriously affect the quantity of electricity you may use each day.

If you want to bring a portable panel for your camping trip, a small and low-powered unit will do the trick. On the other hand, if you want the solar power system to power the electrical needs of your auto or system, then you may need bigger panels to supply usable electricity steadily.

To identify the dimensions of a particular solar panels for homes based on your individual needs, you need to guesstimate a calculation based on the energy usage of all electrical appliances that will be powered by the system. After totaling all electrical consumption of lights, water pumps, entertainment devices and other appliances, then you need to guess the hours you use each item each day. By simply multiplying the total power consumption by the hours, you may have an estimate of the total electric wants you need daily.
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Cost Of Solar Panels

2011-06-13T20:39:00.000-07:00

Price range of Solar Panels for electricity production

Solar panels basically consist of several photovoltaic cells placed and connected together. There are various sizes available in these cells, depending upon the usage. These days, when everyone is striving to make devices more and more compact, efforts are being made to create smaller sized photovoltaic cells.So they can be fitted into communication devices and laptops. The only drawback is that the production of these cells is rather expensive, but initiatives are being made to introduce these cells and solar power generation panels to the public.

It is a fact that building large sized solar powered plants is easier than providing the public with the facility. Once again, the only issue is the cost factor. But it is also a fact that it is just a one time investment, these panels do not need fuel and continue to generate energy in the form of electricity for as much as a whole decade in some cases! Following are some facts regarding solar panel costs:

. Installing a whole street's pole lights with LEDs as well as solar panels can cost around $11000 - $12000. The advantage is that these lights can continue to work for a whole decade. These panels can even function well in shady weather.

. Obviously, the larger the solar panel, the more will be the cost. There are some companies however that have started manufacturing devices fitted with photovoltaic cells than can be used by the general public or for the purpose of establishing small businesses. Solar panels installed at homes for power generation can cost around $200-$10000.

. An investment of around $800 will produce 123 watts total output. The cost varies depending upon the quality and manufacturer of the solar panels.

. A smaller project, such as the investment of about $400 can generate 14 watts electricity. In comparison to this, large sized solar panel kits costing about $900 can produce around 123 watts. These panels are outrageously expensive but one must keep in mind that these are excellent investment with benefits for almost an entire decade.

. You can easily save on your bill considerably just by making an initial investment of about $135. You can even look around at other solar panel installations by your dealer.

. If you live in flats or apartments, you will require an initial investment of about $200-$400 and that will be ideal for you and your energy consumption.

. As discussed earlier, the larger the panel the more will be the cost. This means that small panels built for small devices are not that expensive. You can easily find chargers and batteries for your laptop and phones for not more than $50.

These small panels don't exactly make any difference in the energy consumption but they are definitely a start. The cost will remain high till mass production of these panels is not conducted, but these solar panels are an excellent investment for years.
Solar Power is the best clean and green alternative energy which can be used for various purposes.

Solar Panels For Electricity Generation

2011-06-12T21:12:00.000-07:00

In southern hemisphere, solar panels used for generating electricity must face north, whereas those in northern hemispheres must face south to have maximum benefit of solar power or sunlight that is available.

The electricity that is produced by the solar panels is usually measured in kilowatts. Solar energy that is emitted by sun, on the surface of earth of 1 sq meter, has potential to produce 1,000wats of electricity. Solar panel's efficiency depends on the type of solar panel cells that are used in it. Electricity production of solar panels is affected by some of major factors that include clouds, sunlight, snow, and rain.

Solar cells produce electricity by using photoelectric effect. Pure crystalline silicon is not considered a good electricity conductor so atoms of some other elements are added to it. This results in making silicon a good conductor. Solar cells contain two layers of silicon with electrically conductive, transparent layer. After falling of sunlight on these layers of silicon, protons and electrons get excited and start moving in the layers and this flow basically results in the electric current. Moving charges are channelized by electrical contacts and create direct current that is used for charging batteries. This DC current is then converted into alternating current by feeding it to the inventor.

The silicon sheets are layered with the solar cells in such a way that n-type silicon layer is placed on one side whereas p-type on the corresponding side opposite to the n-type silicon layer. Sunlight that falls on solar cells, usually passes through one silicon layer, then transparent layer, and finally to the other silicon layer. In this way electrons are generated and in turn an electrical activity creates an electrical field surrounding the central sheet. Electrical current then starts flowing through the electrically conductive and transparent sheet. These inexpensive solar cells that are simple, easy to handle, and light are used by solar panels to generate electricity.
Solar Panels use has been increased in the last few years, understanding the importance of green energy.

Used Solar Panels - Recyled They Still Work Great

2011-06-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

You will need to do a little research in regards to what things to ask and what to look for and you can find some good bargains.Call a few of the renewable energy contractors close to you to learn if they have any used solar panels to sale. Other places such as Craigslist or eBay on the net or in periodicals like Home Power, Mother Earth News or Solar Today.

Whenever looking into used solar panels always check the panel with a multimeter in the time of full sunlight. This method will show you how many watts the panel produces. Power production is going to cut down a little bit if the photovoltaic cells (PV) have been in frequent use over a period of years. Many solar panels have been in use for 12-15 years with small strength decline.Additionally you can test out used solar panels by setting your voltmeter to DC volts and measuring across the positive and the negative terminals of the panel. You should acquire 21 volts from a 12 volt panel during bright sunlight.

Determine if there are any issues including broken connections, cracked glass or condensation under the glass. Difficulties such as these can be fixed easily as well as cheaply.Damaged glass is usually replaced but keeping water from condensing inside the new glass might be hard. They can still be used with broken glass, however with reduced output. It is best to replace the glass.Burnt out diodes can easily be taken care of so if you find someone selling a panel at a really cheap price because of the diodes you should take it.

Do not worry if there are loose connections, these can easily be fixed by using an electronics solder with 2% silver or by using a conductive epoxy. Make sure you don't use acid core solders as the acid will weaken the circuit and the connections.

Some solar panels were made with a plastic substrate that turns brown after many years of continuous use. Do not worry as this does not indicate degradation. Brown panels will give the same amount of power as the other ones do.

Older panels are much larger than newer ones so if you are not concerned about size and looks then you can get a really good deal on used solar panels.
Next, For those who want to learn more about used solar panels,head overto hubpages.com/hub/Used-Solar-Panels-4u.Also, to discover an even more cost effective way to have your own solar power enegry generateing panels, go to solarpowere

The Benefits Of Building Solar Panels

2011-06-10T06:43:00.000-07:00

Cost savings are a factor that many people will enjoy when they use solar power. However, what you may not realize is that the savings won't just come in your monthly power bill, but also on the panels when you build them yourself. Then you will see that the cost of getting this type of power is not as expensive as what you might have thought.

They can generate power for your own home and depending on how you have them set up, feed power back into the system. Once you start generating your own power, you will notice that your electric bill will drop drastically. Then you will also notice that you can feed some back into the power grid, and when you do that it can lead to you getting paid from the electric company.

Building solar panels for a specific use is something that you can do as well. When you do this, you will notice that the one specific appliance that you are making the panel for will be powered by it. Then you will not have to worry about it drawing power off the grid or even raising your electric bill. A great item that many people may consider building a solar panel for would be a pool pump, which can easily draw a ton of electricity.

Selling the panels that you make is something else that you need to think about as well. You might even be able to do this to earn extra income or start a small business. Since you are making the panels yourself, the chances are good that you can sell them for a lower amount of money than other people and that could lead to you making quite a bit of money.

Many people want to save money on their electric bill. If you know about the benefits of building solar panels you will see that it is rather easy to save quite a bit of money. Some of those benefits include generating your own power, saving money each month on your electric bill, selling back excess power to your power company, and you can even sell your solar panels to others.
Are you interested in solar panels installation? Be sure to visit my site to find out how to make solar panels.

Building Solar Panels

2011-06-09T13:26:00.000-07:00

Solar Panels comprise of photovoltaic cells connected together to generate electricity from solar energy. This effect is termed as Photovoltaic effect. In this article, production of energy from photovoltaic cells will be discussed, as well as their construction.
About Photovoltaic Cells
These solar cells are actually made up of silicon and layers of various other elements, which absorb the photon in the Sun's natural light. This causes the displacement of the electrons allowing them to freely move within the material. It is actually this displacement and movement of electrons that produces electricity.
How to build Solar Panels
As discussed earlier, a solar panel comprises of several photovoltaic cells stacked and connected together, these are then covered by glass to protect the cells from damage. The process involves creating a panel, making solar cells and then placing them within the panel. There are two basic forms of silicon used in solar cells, namely amorphous and crystalline. Following are ways of constructing solar panel using these two forms of silicon:
Crystalline Solar Panels: First the crystalline silicon is cut into wafer like pieces and then these pieces are polished. All perforations and gaps are sealed and substances are added in order to contaminate the silicon which is otherwise entirely pure in nature. Contamination is achieved by using Phosphorus which is used to cover these pieces. This is how contamination by a dopant (Phosphorus) is achieved. After this, in order to assemble these cells, a dark panel is used. The next process is to attach small strips of metals to these cells. These strips will conduct and generate electricity and are placed on the cells facing the sun. After this, the whole panel is covered for protection against damage using glass, which apart from protecting the cells, also allows the rays of the sun to pass through owing to its transparency. Then as the last step of the process, a thermal conducting variety of cement is used to attach the panel to where it is required. This particular variety of cement is rather expensive but help in keeping the cells cool. After this the panel is placed on an elevated surface, facing the sun.
Amorphous Solar Panels:
These types of cells are created by combining dopants and silicon together on a backing medium. This medium or platform can be made of any material, glass, metal and even plastic in order to give the panels a certain degree of flexibility. The difference between the two types is that amorphous cells contain a thin layer of silicon unlike the crystalline cells. This is why this variety is cheaper than the former.
Solar panels are an excellent and environment friendly way to generate electricity using the Earth's natural source of light energy. This reduces overall cost of electricity, plus these solar panels last up to a whole decade, which means you won't have to spend anything on their replacement or maintenance. It is an excellent option for a one time investment that will allow you to reap benefits for years.
Solar panels are an excellent and environment friendly way to generate electricity using the Earth's natural source of light energy.

Homemade Solar for the Home

2011-06-08T02:30:00.000-07:00

SunPower Provides Updated Guidance ...06.07.2011

2011-06-07T16:56:00.000-07:00

San Jose, California United StatesSunPower Corporation today announced its second-quarter and 2011 fiscal year financial outlook.

Revenues for Q2 are expected between $500-600M and $2.80-2.95bn or full year 2011. Non GAAP gross margin is projected at 15-17% for Q2 and 17-19% fo the full year."Recognized" MW are projected at between 175-200MW in Q3 and 875-920MW for the full year.

“The changes to Italian solar policy this year have had a significant impact on the global solar market,” said Tom Werner, SunPower president and CEO. “In response, we rebalanced our product allocation in Italy away from power plants and toward our European residential and commercial (R&C) business where demand remains strong. The ability to reallocate our product in the face of market changes is a key feature of SunPower’s vertically integrated, geographically diversified model. However, systems sold through our R&C channel yield less profit per watt than systems deployed in self-developed power plant projects, as reflected in our Q2 outlook. In addition, we expect the current global pricing pressure to persist through 2011 and, as a result, we are planning full-year 2011 non-GAAP gross margins to be in the range of 17% to 19%.

"The changes in global market conditions favor SunPower as we have both the flexibility to rebalance our allocation between downstream channels as well as the technology differentiation to sustain premium pricing compared to lower efficiency systems," continued Werner. "Italy's decision to focus market development on residential and commercial applications instead of large power plants is in line with the trend across Europe, playing to our strengths in the rooftop and carport markets. Our world-leading, high-efficiency solar systems maximize customers' returns, especially in area-constrained applications, positioning us to increase our share in these markets."

"To align with the reallocation of product, we are rebalancing resources to support the growth of our residential and commercial rooftop businesses," said Dennis Arriola, SunPower CFO. "We're taking aggressive steps to actively manage our manufacturing and operating expenses, including working with suppliers to modify contracts to reflect current market conditions. In addition, our 2011 outlook incorporates the efficient management of our balance sheet through production optimization and demand-driven inventory levels. These steps, along with the $1 billion credit support agreement with Total, position SunPower to gain market share profitably."

As a result of the changes to Italian solar policy, the company anticipates that its fiscal year 2011 GAAP results will be impacted by certain one-time, pre-tax charges of $14 million to $29 million related to its reallocation strategy, including $11 million to $21 million in the second quarter. In addition, the company expects its second quarter GAAP results to reflect $13 million to $15 million in pre-tax expenses related to the outstanding Total tender offer.

Solar Energy Resources ~ http://www.solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

Premier Power Renewable Energy Breaks Ground on 1.1 MW PV System ...06.03.2011

2011-06-05T09:21:00.000-07:00

Orcutt, California United StatesLaguna County Sanitation District and Premier Power Renewable Energy are initiating a 1.12 megawatt DC solar energy system at Laguna County Sanitation District’s wastewater reclamation facility. The installation will be one of the largest solar energy projects in Santa Barbara County to dateThe solar installation will use over 4,000 high efficiency solar photovoltaic panels on a district-owned, 4 acre land area and convert it into a clean energy producing site. Given the optimal design of the ground-mounted solar system, the district will receive the most advantageous electricity production, which will allow it to stabilize long-term electricity rates, ultimately benefiting its rate payers.

“Laguna County Sanitation District is a classic example of a public entity taking significant environmental actions in its everyday activity. While the district collects and treats wastewater before returning it into the environment, it also uses electricity from the utility grid in order to fulfill its daily commitment,” said Dean Marks, Chief Executive Officer at Premier Power. “The district is also a great example where environmental measures can join forces with capitalism to bring clean, renewable energy into its operations. By locating solar power generating stations on site, the district is making dual-purpose use out of its land, reducing the load on the grid and controlling its costs.”

Joni Gray, Santa Barbara County 4th District Supervisor, added “This project is a move toward energy independence that will protect our ratepayers by giving us greater control over future energy costs. We will now be supplying 60% of our energy needs on site.” Martin Wilder, district manager at the Laguna County Sanitation District further stated, “Considering the environmental and financial benefits of using clean, solar energy to aid our sanitation district, the decision to implement the project was an easy choice. The solution provided by Premier Power is economical to operate and is worth the capital investment.”

Construction is anticipated to begin in June with the system being fully operational in September 2011.

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

DOE Offers Conditional Loan Guarantee to 20 MW Project ...06.02.2011

2011-06-02T21:06:00.000-07:00

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Nevada Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today announced the offer of a conditional commitment for a $45.6 million loan guarantee by the Department of Energy to support a 20 megawatt AC photovoltaic solar generating facility. The project, sponsored by Fotowatio Renewable Ventures is being supported by DOE with funding from the 2009 Recovery Act. It will be developed approximately 25 miles northeast of Las Vegas, and the project's sponsor estimates it will create 250 jobs at peak construction.

"Today's announcement is yet another sign that Nevada is a major player in the growing solar industry," said Secretary Chu. "Investments like this one, along with the many other clean energy projects underway in the state, will help us to create jobs while positioning the U.S. to lead in the global energy race."

"This announcement clearly shows that Nevada is well on its way to becoming a global leader in clean energy job creation," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "Thanks to public-private partnerships like the loan guarantee program, scores of clean energy companies such as Fotowatio are bringing projects to Nevada to put people back to work by turning our state's abundant clean energy resources into jobs and economic growth."

"This announcement means three things for Nevadans: jobs, jobs and jobs," said Nevada Congresswoman Shelley Berkley. "It's why I fought so hard to protect the job-creating loan guarantee program when some in Congress were trying to kill the initiative entirely. Because we prevailed, our state is one step closer to becoming the clean energy jobs capitol of America and hundreds of Nevadans are about to go back to work."

The Fotowatio PV solar generating facility will include over 90,000 polycrystalline silicon modules attached to single-axis horizontal tracker technology that will capture more energy than fixed-tilt photovoltaic systems. The project, which will be the second largest photovoltaic generation facility in Nevada, is expected to avoid over 31,000 tons of carbon pollution annually. The facility is also expected to produce approximately 55,000 megawatt hours annually, enough to power over 4,700 homes. Power from the project will be sold to Nevada Power Company. The Fotowatio application was received by lender-applicant John Hancock Life Insurance (U.S.A.) under the Financial Institution Partnership Program (FIPP).

Solar projects ~ http://solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

Siemens Receives 3 MW PV System Order ...06.01.2011

2011-06-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

Orlando, Florida United States

Siemens Energy has been selected by Syncarpha Capital to provide engineering, procurement and construction services for a 3-megawatt-peak (MWp), ground-based PV power plant in Eastampton, New Jersey.

Construction is scheduled to begin in May 2011 and the plant is scheduled to go online in September 2011.

Syncarpha Capital, an investment company launched to capitalize on opportunities in the alternative energy sector, will finance the solar power plant. Utilizing proven Siemens technology and plant performance guarantees, the solar facility will help to satisfy New Jersey's rapidly growing demand for renewable power.

"Siemens is proud to partner with Syncarpha Capital to install solar generating capacity in New Jersey, and we look forward to working in concert on what we expect to be the first of many such projects," stated Thomas Mart, Director, PV, Siemens Energy, Inc. "This order plays an important role in the continued development of our photovoltaic business."

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

1.9 MW PV System Completed for PUMA ...05.31.2011

2011-05-31T14:34:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles, California United StatesPUMA North America and Premier Power Renewable Energy have completed a 1.9 megawatt (MW) solar energy system in greater Los Angeles. The two Brookvale International buildings, in Carson and Torrance, are part of PUMA North America’s warehouse and distribution facilities.

The high performance solar installations have used over 8,500 high efficiency solar photovoltaic panels covering nearly 340,000 square feet of roof-top area converting them into clean energy producing sites. The light-gauge steel, customer designed racking system, designed and installed by Premier Power, allowed to optimize roof space while used fewer ballast blocks than traditional system. Given the optimal design of the roof-mounted solar system, Puma will receive the advantageous electricity production, which will allow them to stabilize long-term electricity rates, ultimately benefiting its customers, employees and the local communities.

“PUMA is certainly a significant trendsetter in sportlifestyle, a true leader in sustainability and environmental concerns and now with the solar power installations, a true advocate of renewable energy helping shape consumers’ and suppliers’ minds to a much greener supply chain,” said Dean Marks, Chief Executive Officer at Premier Power. “Our engineering team designed this unique racking system as a solution out of our European operations and felt that the design and capabilities provided the best option for meeting the site characteristics and production needs of PUMA.”

“PUMA’s mission is to be the most desirable and sustainable SportLifestyle company in the world,” said Helmut Leibbrandt, Senior Vice President of Operations at PUMA North America. “The solar energy system installed in our California facilities continues to reinforce our beliefs and principles.”

Check out more and get a Free Report ~ http://solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

SunPower System Dedicated at Macy's Arizona Fulfillment Center ...05.26.2011

2011-05-26T16:34:00.000-07:00

Goodyear, Arizona United StatesMacy's, Inc., SunPower Corporation and Arizona Public Service (APS) today dedicated a 3.5–megawatt solar power system at the Macy's online fulfillment center in Goodyear, Ariz.

"At Macy's, Inc., we believe that contributing to a more sustainable environment is good business practice and the right thing to do for future generations. Our comprehensive approach involves everyone around us including our customers, associates and vendors. We are pleased to begin achieving significant operational savings today in Goodyear, Ariz., while supporting Macy's overall environmental goals," said Peter Longo, president of Macy's Logistics and Operations.

"The city of Goodyear commends Macy's and APS for supporting renewable energy, and bringing this very significant SunPower solar power system to our community," said Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord. "As a source of emission-free electricity and economic development, solar power makes sense in Goodyear."

SunPower designed and installed the system and is providing on-going operations and maintenance services. The system features the SunPower®T5 Solar Roof Tile, the solar industry's first non-penetrating rooftop product that combines a high-efficiency solar panel, frame and mounting system into a single pre-engineered unit. Tilted at a five-degree angle, the T5 Roof Tile system approximately doubles the energy generated per square meter compared to other systems that are mounted flat onto commercial rooftops.

According to estimates provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Goodyear system is expected to offset more than 3,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, which is equivalent to removing more than 600 cars from Arizona's highways each year.

"We applaud Macy's for its leadership in environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility," said Jim Pape, president of SunPower's residential and commercial business group. "As a SunPower customer since 2007, Macy's understands the guaranteed performance delivered by solar technology, and the bottom line benefits it reliably generates."

APS, Macy's local energy provider at Goodyear, helped make the system more affordable by providing financial rebates through the APS Renewable Energy Incentive Program. The program offers rebates to customers who add renewable energy systems to their homes or business. The rebates are the mechanism through which APS is purchasing the renewable energy credits associated with the system.

More information ~ http://www.solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

GT Solar Reports Financial Results ...05.24.2011

2011-05-25T14:11:00.000-07:00

Merrimack, New Hampshire United StatesGT Solar has reported results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2011, which ended April 2, 2011.

Revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 totaled $271.6 million, compared to $262.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and $194.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. Revenue by business segment for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2011 was $79.2 million in polysilicon, $186.0 million in photovoltaic (PV), and $6.4 million in the sapphire segment, all of which was sapphire materials revenue. Revenue for fiscal 2011 was $899.0 million, approximately 65% growth over fiscal 2010 revenue of $544.2 million. Revenue by business segment for fiscal 2011 was $143.6 million in polysilicon, $740.1 million in photovoltaic (PV), and $15.3 million in the sapphire segment, all of which was sapphire materials revenue.

Gross profit for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 totaled $116.9 million, or 43.0 percent of revenue, compared to $122.1 million, or 46.4 percent of revenue in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and $73.1 million, or 37.5 percent of revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. Gross margin for fiscal 2011 was 42.0 percent with a gross profit of $378.0 million compared to a gross margin of 40.2 percent and gross profit of $219.0 million for fiscal 2010.

Operating margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 was 30.5 percent of revenue, compared to 36.1 percent of revenue in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and 28.4 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. Operating margin for fiscal 2011 was 30.4 percent, compared with 26.5 percent in fiscal 2010.

The company had net income of $51.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 compared to $63.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and $33.3 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. Earnings per share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 on a fully-diluted basis were $0.41, versus $0.46 for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and $0.23 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. Net income for fiscal 2011 was a record $174.8 million compared to $87.3 million for fiscal 2010. This resulted in a fully diluted EPS of $1.24 per share for fiscal 2011, more than double the fully diluted EPS for fiscal 2010 of $0.60 per share.

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 were $362.7 million, up from $320.4 million dollars of cash and cash equivalents at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and $250.7 million of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. In addition, we had debt of $120.3 million at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, down from $125.0 million of debt at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and no debt at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.

As of April 2, 2011, the company’s backlog was $1.19 billion, with $536.7 million in the polysilicon segment, $468.1 million in the PV segment and $184.2 million in the sapphire segment. Included in the total backlog was $445.5 million of deferred revenue. Net new orders for the quarter were $234.2 million, which included $14.7 million in polysilicon, $125.1 million in PV and $94.4 million in sapphire.

The company raised its fiscal 2012 guidance for revenue to a range of $1.0 billion to $1.1 billion, up from the previously provided range of $850 million to $1.0 billion. Based on estimated weighted average diluted shares outstanding of approximately 131 million for the full fiscal year, fully diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $1.55 to $1.85, up from the previously provided range of $1.25 to $1.50. The company expects gross margins for fiscal year 2012 to be in the range of 42 percent to 44 percent.

“Our strong fourth quarter performance caps an outstanding year for GT and its shareholders,” said Tom Gutierrez, president and chief executive officer. “We achieved record revenues in fiscal year 2011 on 65 percent year-over-year growth and we more than doubled our earnings per share. We concluded the year with a strong balance sheet and cash position, while utilizing $203.5 million of cash to buy back 26.5 million shares from our private equity investor.

“This fiscal year, we shipped a record number of DSS furnaces to maintain our strong market position in the PV sector of our business. In our polysilicon business we saw increased activity that we believe provides the basis for continued growth in fiscal year 2012 and beyond.

“We took an important strategic step to diversify the business in fiscal 2011 with the acquisition of Crystal Systems, which has allowed us to enter the high-growth sapphire business. Our sapphire substrate business continues to be fully booked and our sapphire equipment business has developed rapidly with over $484 million of orders booked as of today.

“GT’s overall business outlook remains strong. We booked over $230 million of new business in the fourth quarter, bringing total net bookings for the year to over $1.1 billion and our backlog as of April 2nd to approximately $1.2 billion. The healthy pace of business has continued into the new fiscal year with an additional $722 million of orders booked so far in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012.

China Sunergy Announces First Quarter 2011 Financial Results ...05.23.2011

2011-05-23T21:20:00.000-07:00

Nanjing, ChinaChina Sunergy today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011. Results reported reflect the Company's business transition at the end of last year, in which it moved from primarily selling solar cells to selling solar modules to end users.

For the first quarter of 2011, revenue amounted to US$165.7 million, a decrease of 2.3% over the fourth quarter of 2010. Revenue from module sales amounted to US$160.5 million and accounted for 96.9% of total revenue. Shipments for the first quarter were 98.0 MW, including 92.1 MW of solar modules. Revenues were held back primarily by uncertainty over feed-in tariffs in Italy, which led to banks' reluctance to release loans and project developers' deferral of module purchases. Seasonality due to winter weather installation difficulty was also a factor. On the positive side, the company's revenues reflect that it has largely transitioned from selling cells to selling modules.

Gross margin was 10.7% for the first quarter of 2011, compared to 16.0% for the fourth quarter of 2010, a drop that nevertheless beat the Company's prior guidance. Gross profit for the first quarter was US$17.8 million, representing a sequential decrease of 34.3%. Falling ASP levels and comparatively high raw material costs contributed to this decrease.

Blended module ASP during the first quarter was US$1.74 per watt, higher than the Company's previous guidance of US$1.70 per watt. ASP declined from US$1.93 per watt in the fourth quarter.

In the first quarter of 2011, blended wafer costs were US$0.92 per watt, representing a sequential decrease of 7.1%. The prices of polysilicon and wafers are expected to continue declining in the second quarter. Non-silicon costs for cells and modules for the first quarter of 2011 were US$0.22 and US$0.31 per watt respectively.

Inventories at the end of Q1 2011 reached US$124.1 million, a 71.6% increase over the end of 2010. The Company also experienced operating cash outflow of US$92.0 million. These results were directly related to slower than expected sales in Italy.

Regarding the ongoing dispute with REC, China Sunergy had served a writ upon REC Wafer, claiming it is not a party to the contract between China Sunergy and the dissolved REC Sitech AS. In July 2010, the Salten District Court in Norway ruled against China Sunergy in the case. The Company appealed the ruling in August 2010. An appeal hearing, originally scheduled for March 2011, will now be held in June 2011.

In parallel to the main dispute, the Supreme Court of Norway ruled on July 15, 2010 and overturned the Court of Appeal's order denying China Sunergy's injunction petition with regard to a US$50 million bank guarantee. The injunction petition was sent back to the Court of Appeal for a new ruling. The Court of Appeal decided that the injunction shall remain in force until the Court of Appeal has passed a judgment in the main case.

China Sunergy is a named defendant in three purported class actions filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. On September 29, 2008, the District Court appointed a lead plaintiff and consolidated the three cases.

On December 8, 2008, the lead plaintiff filed a consolidated amended complaint which purports to state class action claims against us in connection with our initial public offering and seeks unspecified damages. Specifically, the lead plaintiff alleges that the Company made false and misleading statements in our initial public offering registration statement and prospectus regarding, among other things, the procurement of polysilicon.

Several of the Company's directors and officers, along with the investment banks that underwrote the initial public offering, are also named defendants in the cases. On January 26, 2009, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint.

Defendants' motion remained outstanding when, on July 14, 2009, the parties reached an agreement in principle to settle the dispute in its entirety with an amount of $1.1 million. On May 12, 2011, the Court held that final hearing, and issued a final judgment for each of the three filed cases, dismissing each case with prejudice and approving the parties' settlement and plan of allocation. The parties are currently working to implement that settlement. All payments pursuant to the settlement will be made by the Company's insurers.

Tioga Energy Commences Development of 44 Solar Projects ...05.19.2011

2011-05-22T20:16:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth, New Jersey United StatesTioga Energy has finalized contracts and begun development of 3.4 MW of solar energy systems at facilities owned by a variety of local government agencies in Union County, New Jersey. Under the terms of the solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) between Tioga Energy and the county agencies, Tioga will own and operate the projects, selling the electricity generated back to the county at predictable rates and lowering electricity costs by approximately 50 percent over 15 years.

To finance the installations, Tioga Energy and the Union County Improvement Authority implemented a financial structure that combines the benefits of low-interest municipal bonds with the sale of solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) and federal tax incentives to lower the cost of the solar electricity provided to the county under the PPAs.

“Working with Tioga Energy offers Union County tremendous value, allowing us to decrease our energy expenses and instead allocate those resources to better serve our community,” said Charlotte DeFilippo, Executive Director of the Union County Improvement Authority. “In these times of tight budgets for schools and municipal services, Union County’s forward-looking solar program helps us save money, control costs over the long-term and create jobs within the growing clean technology industry.”

Union County Freeholder Daniel P. Sullivan hailed the solar program as a “visionary” effort.
“The Renewable Energy Program puts Union County in the forefront as our nation transitions to a safer, healthier and more affordable energy future,” said Freeholder Sullivan. “The Improvement Authority is to be commended for its diligent pursuit of this important program, and I would like to thank all the participants for their support.”

The 44 solar electric systems will be located at a variety of county-owned sites throughout the region, including three firehouses, four libraries and schools in seven districts. Tioga’s installation partner, a joint venture between Pro-Tech Energy Solutions and Huen Electric, Inc., will engineer and construct the systems.
“Tioga’s experience with this type of municipal project financing enabled us to tackle the complexities of this initiative that turned away other providers. We commend the Union County Improvement Authority for taking action to simultaneously reduce both the county’s carbon footprint and its electricity bills,” said Paul Detering, CEO of Tioga Energy. “The Tioga team is constantly working to highlight the viability of solar in any economic climate, and we’re now seeing more and more communities like Union County exploring unique financing mechanisms to bring renewable projects to life.”

Global Plastics Company Goes Solar ...05.20.2011

2011-05-20T21:29:00.000-07:00

Mebane, North Carolina United StatesWith the throw of a switch, a world-class plastics injection molding and assembly company is evolving into a greener business. Nypo activated a 222-kilowatt solar system and four wind turbines at its Mebane facility Thursday morning during a public ceremony. Morrisville-based Southern Energy Management (SEM) designed and installed the rooftop solar array, which consists of 1,008 REC 220-watt PV modules.

“These are the types of companies we love to work with, especially because their mission aligns with ours in a lot of ways,” said SEM commercial solar services director Eric Blomendale. “Nypro has some ambitious goals in terms of environmental sustainability, and a company of their size could have a really positive impact.”

Based in Massachusetts, Nypro is one of the 10 largest employee-owned companies in the world; it has 17,000 employees working at 45 locations in 16 countries. Corporate responsibility is a big part of Nypro’s long-term strategic plans, with a commitment to decrease greenhouse gas emissions through improved operational efficiency and the use of clean, renewable energy resources. The solar array and wind turbines in Mebane are the first renewable energy installations Nypro has approved so far.

“This project is a pilot program to adapt renewable energy to plastics manufacturing. Our long-term goal is to power all Nypro Packaging operations with renewable energy,” said Paul Kayser, Group President for Nypro Packaging.

The combined energy from the solar and wind installations is expected to generate enough power to offset the electricity used by six of Nypro’s 200-ton injection molding machines, which are typically used to make plastic packaging and medical products.

SDGE Signs 125 MW of CPV Contracts

2011-05-18T17:02:00.000-07:00

05.18.2011

San Diego Gas & Electric and subsidiaries of Soitec Solar Development, LLC, a renewable energy company managed by Soitec (Euronext Paris), have signed two additional 25-year contracts for a total of 125 megawatts of solar energy to be generated in the utility’s service territory. The energy will be produced using Soitec’s Concentrix™ concentrator photovoltaic technology with solar modules manufactured in a new Soitec factory to be built in the San Diego area.

These new agreements are separate from the three San Diego contracts the two companies signed in April for 30 MW of CPV-generated solar power. Combined, the five contracts SDG&E recently signed with Soitec represent five separate projects capable of generating a combined total of 155 megawatts of clean, renewable solar power, or enough energy to supply more than 60,000 homes. Both of the new proposed projects will be located in San Diego County and will be situated near SDG&E electric substations.

“Our projects with Soitec will bring local jobs to the community and will help us to meet our renewable energy goals,” said James P. Avery, SDG&E’s senior vice president of power supply. “We are very confident in our choice of technology and in Soitec’s plans for a solar panel manufacturing facility in the San Diego region.”

Today’s announcement confirms the attractiveness of Soitec’s renewable energy technology – which generates large amounts of power with industry-leading efficiency and low environmental impact – in areas such as Southern California with abundant sunshine.

“These new contracts with SDG&E reinforce Soitec’s decision to build its new manufacturing site in the San Diego area, and confirms the importance of the U.S. market for our company,” said André-Jacques Auberton-Hervé, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Soitec. “We are very pleased to have a direct role in bringing ‘home grown’ solar energy to the people of San Diego.”

Soitec’s new manufacturing facility will have an annual production capacity of 200 MW and will supply all of SDG&E’s projects with Soitec’s exclusive Concentrix CPV technology, which produces power at a much higher efficiency relative to standard solar panels. At full capacity, Soitec’s San Diego operations facility will generate up to 450 direct jobs and more than 1,000 indirect jobs. The factory location is expected to be announced this summer, with completion within 18 months of construction start.

PV Equipment Spending of $15.2 Billion in 2011 at Risk from Market Downturn

2011-05-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Strong Equipment Revenues Continue, but Declining Incentives Across Europe are Likely to Reset Capacity Expansion Plans During 2H’11

San Francisco, Calif., April 18, 2011—Following a year when global photovoltaic (PV) market demand grew 139%, PV cell manufacturers have embarked upon aggressive expansion plans in support of ambitious shipment guidance for 2011. Consequently, the scale of expansions announced would create a $15.2 billion revenue opportunity for PV equipment suppliers during 2011, an increase of 41% Y/Y, according to the latest Solarbuzz® PV Equipment Quarterly report.

While Y/Y growth for c-Si equipment spending (including ingot, wafer, cell and module stages) in 2011 would amount to 31%, thin-film spending would grow by an incredible 71%. Underpinning this thin-film growth is a resurgence of investments in a-Si and CIGS technologies, which account for 78% of planned thin-film capacity expansions.

Tier 1 expansions remain dominated by aggressive schedules announced by publicly-listed Chinese c-Si producers, followed by cell producers in Taiwan and thin-film leader First Solar. Examples of revised year-end nameplate capacity targets include JA Solar to 3 GW, Trina Solar to 1.9 GW, Neo Solar Power to 1.8 GW, and Jinko Solar to 1.5 GW. In the past 12 months, manufacturers in China and Taiwan accounted for 82% of the $3.6 billion revenues allocated to new c-Si cell equipment worldwide.

Adding to the c-Si expansion activity, thin-film manufacturing capacity is scheduled to grow by 70% between Q1’11 and Q1’12, as the second thin-film investment cycle draws to a conclusion. Within this period, an incredible 65 thin-film expansion phases are projected to be implemented, with a combined nameplate capacity of 4.8 GW.

According to Finlay Colville , Senior Analyst at Solarbuzz, “Fab investments during 2011 are providing opportunities for the PV equipment supply-chain, reflected in tool backlogs at the $1 billion level reported during Q1’11 by equipment leaders Applied Materials, Centrotherm, GT Solar and Meyer Burger. While suppliers of choice to tier-1 manufacturers have been forced to increase monthly tool shipments, tier-2 c-Si and thin-film investments are offering significant revenue upside for emerging equipment suppliers.”

Capacity expansions are consistent with leading cell manufacturers guiding 2011 shipment growth rates of 55%. However, market demand is forecast to increase by only 12% this year, as incentive tariff cuts are implemented across major European markets. This imbalance will have a profound impact on the equipment supply-chain, starting with a reset of capacity growth plans during 2H’11. With tool lead times typically 3-6 months, the full impact of these changes will be felt hardest during 2012.

Figure 1: PV Equipment Spending by Technology Segment (Q1’11 - Q1’12)

Source: Solarbuzz PV Equipment Quarterly

Equipment Spending Downturn Ahead

During Q1’11, PV equipment spending reached another quarterly high of $3.7 billion. The current PV spending cycle will peak in Q2’11, followed by a sharp decline from Q4’11, as the industry resets its expansion plans to meet the pending market downturn in 2H’11. For leading equipment suppliers aligned with tier-1 expansion phases, this will translate to an immediate decline in new order intake.

However, new opportunities will then emerge for equipment suppliers of next-generation fab tools, as high-efficiency roadmaps are reprioritized. Q-Cells recently announced plans to upgrade their 1.1 GW of cell capacity during 2H’11 with front- and rear-side enhancements, providing an early indicator of roadmap deliverables. High-efficiency c-Si variants are forecast to comprise 35% of all c-Si cell capacity by Q1’12. Accelerating next-generation concepts will facilitate adoption rates of new tool types, such as ion implanters being championed today by semiconductor-equipment market leader Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates.

As existing backlogs are shipped during 1H’11, strong Q1’11 revenues will be announced shortly. However, the leading indicator will be new orders received, as PV producers review their plans for 2012. Further expansion by thin-film entrants will depend upon the success of initial fabs ramped up in 2011 and 2012. However, a long queue of hungry investors eyeing up the PV industry will likely keep this fragmented segment financed for some time.

As the equipment spending cycle approaches its downturn in 2H’11, new challenges will emerge for tool suppliers. This is most vividly captured within the US$750 million segment for PECVD tools used to deposit passivation layers and anti-reflecting coatings during c-Si cell formation. Meyer Burger’s proposed takeover of Roth and Rau comes ahead of a likely drop-off in PECVD order intake as Centrotherm increases its market-share, Jusung Engineering is buoyed up following a significant win at a top-10 cell producer, and Orbotech’s subsidiary OLT Solar prepares to deliver its first beta-site tool in Q2’11.

The Solarbuzz PV Equipment Quarterly report provides the tools to enable PV equipment suppliers to navigate around these challenges by identifying target customers or competitors, equipment revenues on offer down to the key process tool level, and the precise timing of each PV manufacturer’s announced fab expansion plans by quarter out to 2015.

The Solarbuzz PV Equipment Quarterly features a comprehensive capacity and production database incorporating Solarbuzz’s proprietary industry knowledge across over 350 c-Si cell and thin-film panel producers, and a PowerPoint report with extensive analysis on technology and equipment spending trends. All data and analysis is updated on a quarterly basis and includes expansion and spending activity from the immediate quarter closed for over 1100 capacity expansion phases out to 2015. The performance of leading PV equipment suppliers is analyzed, including PV-specific process tool revenues, bookings, and backlogs—each updated on a quarterly basis.

First Solar Announces First Quarter 2011 Financial Results ...05.03.2011

2011-05-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

United StatesArizona.First Solar, Inc. today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2011. Net sales were $567 million in the quarter, a decrease of $42.5 million from the fourth quarter of 2010, due to the allocation of modules to systems projects in order to meet the project contractual delivery schedules, seven fewer production days, and a full quarter impact of the pricing change implemented in December of 2010.

Quarterly net sales decreased slightly from $568 million in the first quarter of 2010, primarily due to lower average selling prices.

First quarter net income per fully diluted share was $1.33, down from $1.80 in the fourth quarter of 2010 and $2.00 in the first quarter of 2010. Quarter over quarter, the net income decrease was primarily driven by lower net sales and gross margin. Year over year, the net income decrease was primarily driven by reduced average selling prices and higher expenses, partially offset by increased module production and lower module cost per watt.

“Despite European market uncertainties, First Solar has good visibility into our demand for 2011,” said Rob Gillette, CEO of First Solar. “We continue to execute our cost roadmaps, invest in new module capacity, build our project pipeline and develop promising new markets around the world.”

First Solar’s updated 2011 guidance is as follows:

Net sales of $3.7 to $3.8 billion
Operating Income of $900 to $970 million
Earnings per fully diluted share of $9.25 to $9.75
$50 to $60 million of manufacturing start-up expenses and $10 to $15 million of factory ramp costs
Total capital spending of $1.0 to $1.1 billion
Operating cash flow of $0.8 to $1.0 billion

Solar information!!

Q-Cells SE to Enter Japanese Residential Market

2011-04-28T12:28:00.000-07:00

Q-Cells SE is to enter the Japanese residential market with integrated photovoltaic solutions. In order to ensure a successful market entry, QCells has founded the Q-Cells Meister Club (QMC), which is an innovative sales network of selected local installers, offering residential PV solutions with Q-Cells solar modules. The QMC delivers residential end customers solar systems kits for their roof-top installations from a single source.

“The QMC was initiated before the earthquake hit Japan”, says Nedim Cen, CEO of Q-Cells SE. “Yet, we believe that solar energy will be an important resource and growing market for the Japanese energy supply. This is why Q-Cells strengthens its presence in Japan with local partners and PV solutions.”

Since January 2010, Q-Cells has been running an office in Tokyo, selling its products, comprising solar cells, multi crystalline solar modules Q.PRO and Q.BASE and thin-film solar modules Q.SMART. With the official start of QMC in early March, Q-Cells moves into offering complete PV packages to residential end customers. . In March, Q-Cells installed its first residential system of 9.87 KWp in Osaka, which can make up for an electricity supply of 10.594 kWh or a reduction of 3.300 kg CO2 emissions per year.

The QMC already counts 30 members, offering entire solar systems kits, including solar modules, inverters, mounting systems, monitoring systems, cables and other components. The members of the QMC benefit from installation and sales training provided by Q-Cells with the overall aim, to offer highly secure and best quality system kits and services to Japanese customers. “Our German Engineering solar modules match the quality of the components of our selected local partners and meet the high quality requirements of Japanese customers”, said Steffen Studeny, Managing Director of Q-Cells Japan.

Q-Cells will put further effort in increasing the number of members of the QMC throughout 2011.

Solar Info ~ http://www.solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

Regulators Approve Contract for 150 MW Solar Power Plant ...04.14.2011

2011-04-14T15:55:00.000-07:00

San Diego,
United States California.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has unanimously approved Pacific Gas & Electric's 20-year contract to purchase 150 megawatts (MW) of solar power from Sempra Generation's Mesquite Solar 1 facility in Arizona.

With approval of the contract secured, the company plans to begin construction on the photovoltaic solar power plant in June. The project is expected to create about 300 construction jobs at peak. Mesquite Solar 1 will produce enough electricity to power approximately 56,000 average homes when completed in early 2013.

"Approval of this contract is a major step forward for Sempra Generation and it reflects the vision and leadership by PG&E and state policy makers who have put California on the path to a clean energy future," said Jeffrey W. Martin, president and chief executive officer of Sempra Generation. "We look forward to starting construction on this world-class solar power complex that will deliver a new supply of sustainable energy and create hundreds of jobs."

Mesquite Solar 1 is the first phase of Sempra Generation's planned 700-MW Mesquite Solar complex located 40 miles west of Phoenix.

Building Solar Energy!

Phoenix Solar Signs Its Largest Contract Outside Germany ...04.13.2011

2011-04-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

Germany
Phoenix Solar has signed an agreement on the turnkey construction of a solar park with a peak power of around 12 megawatts in France. Phoenix Solar AG was commissioned by a joint venture formed by InfraClass Energie 5, a closed-end fund of KGAL, with the French company CRYO SARL.The plant is Phoenix Solar's largest to date outside Germany.

The solar park will be built in Le Castellet in the Département Var, some 40 kilometres southeast of Marseille. The 25 hectare piece of land is located in a region with one of the highest solar irradiations in France. Almost 150,000 First Solar modules and 35 Power One central inverters will be used to build the 12 megawatt power plant which will supply more than 3,000 households with green electricity in the future.

As the EPC contractor, Phoenix Solar AG will be responsible for the planning, delivery and construction of the solar park. Construction work has already begun and is due for completion at the end of August. Phoenix Solar will subsequently 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 tariff still valid in 2009.
"We are very pleased that we had Phoenix Solar's long-standing experience to rely on in a project of this size. This project is the second one developed by our company and realised by Phoenix Solar based on a long term relationship", commented Damien Brunon, General Manager of CRYO SARL. "The solar park in Le Castellet is symbolic of the expansion of renewable energies and the opportunities for photovoltaics in France. We hope that we will be able to implement more projects of this type in the future", said Dr. Klaus Wolf, member of KGAL's Management Board. KGAL offers closed-end funds to private and institutional investors which enables them to benefit from the opportunities inherent in generating power from solar energy.

"This project, our largest outside Germany, makes us very proud. Le Castellet is an important milestone in the process of raising the proportion of our international business in 2011. We are pleased that we are now successfully working together with KGAL in France as well and to continue our partnership with CRYO in project development", stated Dr. Andreas Hänel, Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Solar AG.

Solar Energy Resouces!

LADWP Temporarily Suspends Taking Solar Rebate Applications ...04.12.2011

2011-04-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

United StatesCalifornia.Facing a record demand for solar rebates, growing safety concerns, and some apparent misinformation to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) customers by some solar PV installers, LADWP has placed a temporary hold on accepting new applications for its Solar Incentive Program, effective at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 8, 2011, for a minimum of 90 days. During this period, LADWP will review and revise the program, which has seen the number of applications grow each month to over 2,000 applications currently in process. In addition more and more solar photovoltaic systems are being turned on without proper inspection, creating a safety hazard.

The temporary hold on accepting new applications is necessary to revise the program guidelines to better serve LADWP customers and align with current solar PV market conditions. With one of the highest solar PV incentive rates in California, federal tax benefits and rapidly dropping solar panel prices, the number of solar rebate applications continues to grow each month and has exhausted funding for the next four years at the budget levels established for the program at its outset in 2007.

“It is clearly time to pause and review our program incentive levels. Our rebate levels, while reduced from levels paid in prior years, is about double the minimum level required by SB 1. We fully support and want more renewable energy and we want to foster solar technology, but not at undue expense to our customers who pay for this important program,” said Ronald O. Nichols, LADWP General Manager. “We need to be smart about how we provide incentives and that starts with ensuring we are doing so in a fiscally responsible manner. This suspension will allow us time to determine the proper rebate level and align it with the current solar PV market. During the review, we will honor all applications we have received and processed, but we will reset the rebate at a lower level when the program is resumed. This approach will ensure we get the most solar bang for our buck, while continuing to provide a strong incentive for our customers to go solar.”

As of April 1, 2011, the LADWP Solar Incentive Program had confirmed requests for $112 million in solar rebates, but only $30 million is budgeted annually for the program.The State of California program guidelines established by Senate Bill 1 in 2006 require that it be suspended when the amount of confirmed and unpaid rebate reservations exceeds the availability of funds to honor those reservations in a timely manner.

The rush for rebates has also contributed to serious safety violations; solar installations are being turned on before LADWP has completed its final inspection and authorized system activation. This situation has occurred in about 20 percent of the solar installations since January. It can create a serious safety hazard for customers and for electric maintenance crews working in the area who do not know the solar system is energized.

“Our solar incentive rebate application clearly indicates that customers need approval of their applications to be assured of receiving LADWP’s rebate, and that inspections are required prior to energizing their systems. Some customers have informed us that the contractors who installed the rooftop PV systems have indicated there is no need to delay installation while LADWP reviews their applications”, said Aram Benyamin, Senior Assistant General Manager for Power for LADWP. The LADWP program, similar to other SB 1 programs of other utilities, provides for payment upon installation and final inspection. “The result is some customers are apparently misinformed by their installation contractors, have paid in some cases tens of thousands of dollars for PV systems that were installed without confirmation by LADWP, counter to the rules of the program, only to find that they have long waits for rebates due to the deluge of applications”, Benyamin explained. “We cannot continue to allow this to happen.”
During the temporary hold on accepting new applications, LADWP will review the program budget and will also review financing options to maintain a steady pace of participation and funding for the duration of the state’s SB 1 program. Mandated by state legislation, SB 1 requires that utilities invest their customers’ money in solar PV systems for their homes and businesses. “In the last four years, the cost of PV systems have fallen by around 50%, but contractors are not passing those savings onto our customers”, LADWP’s power system head, Benyamin notes. The high level of the LADWP rebates could contribute to this contractor pricing practice. LADWP will review and revise the program to do the following:

Increase customer outreach and education to promote safety;

Streamline processing of unconfirmed applications – a current backlog of over 500 requests for rebates;

Review incentive levels to better serve customers, and reflect current solar PV market conditions;

Assess options for utility financing of the rebates to smooth out the annual cost of this major PV rebate program to reduce the annual rate effect of the program; and

Address the oversubscription to provide rebates in a timelier manner.

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Aleo Solar Delivers Modules for 2 MW Solar Plant in Greece

2011-04-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

Aleo solar has recently delivered more than 9,000 of its aleo S_18 modules for a two-megawatt open-field solar power plant in Theben, northwest of Athens. The plant is expected to produce 2,800,000 kilowatt hours annually - equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 830 Greek three-person households.

The solar farm was constructed by one of Greece's leading solar energy companies: RSEnergy Hellas Solartechnik Ltd., based in Volos, installed photovoltaic plants with a total output of five megawatts in 2010.

The collaboration of aleo solar AG and RSEnergy Hellas Solartechnik Ltd. will continue in 2011; a master agreement for the delivery of five megawatts has already been signed. The premium modules will be used for solar roofs on private homes and commercial buildings as well as for open-field installations.

"We are excited to have signed this master agreement, which extends our collaboration that began in 2007," said Thanasis Sakkas, Head of Sales for aleo solar in Greece and Cyprus.

Ralf Müller-Polyzos, CEO of RSEnergy, adds: "The excellent quality of aleo solar's modules combined with the direct local support provided here in Greece are important factors for both RSEnergy and our customers."
The plant will be operated by the Greek investor Nea Elektra A.B.E.E. "We decided to make a sustainable, safe and environmentally friendly investment. The modules from aleo solar are designed to last and are optimized to deliver maximum yields," said Loukas Saridis, Chairman of Nea Elektra.
The Beginner Solar!

Power-One Updates Outlook for First Quarter 2011

2011-04-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

Power-One, Inc., a provider of renewable energy and energy-efficient power conversion and management solutions, has updated its financial outlook.

For the period ended April 3, 2011, the company expects to report revenue between $240 million and $245 million, below its previously announced range of $260 million to $290 million, due to market conditions and near-term feed-in-tariff uncertainty in Italy and Germany.

"Although we expect to post a nearly 60 percent increase in revenue in the first quarter of 2011 compared to 2010, we've revised our guidance for the quarter due to recent adverse conditions in the European solar market," said Richard Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of Power-One. "Based on current developments, we still anticipate European countries such as Italy and Germany will continue to support solar adoption to reduce reliance on non-renewable sources of power. Further, for the remainder of 2011 and 2012, we believe we are better positioned to handle similar regional anomalies due to our expanded product line and focus on developing new markets, including the United States, China and India."

Power-One will provide further information on its first quarter 2011 performance when it reports earnings on May 5, 2011, after the market close.

Make your own renewable Energy!

U.S. Solar Photovoltaic Project Order Backlog Surpasses 12 GW

2011-04-06T15:46:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—April 6, 2011—The solar photovoltaic (PV) project order backlog for the United States market has now soared past 12 gigawatts (GW), according to the latest edition of the Solarbuzz United States Deal Tracker report. While the PV industry is facing the effects of large cuts in feed-in tariffs across Europe, the order backlog in the US confirms that the country will be one of the most promising growth markets over the next 24 months. The US market doubled in size in 2010 and is forecast to do so again in 2011.

The April edition of the United States Deal Tracker logs over 375 non-residential projects in the US project pipeline being planned or going through a Request for Proposal process. It also includes an additional 775 projects that total 0.7 GW of PV systems either installed or being installed since January 1, 2010.

Figure 1: Non-Residential Projects by System Size* (2010-2015)

*Based on Total Number of Projects, not MW

Source: Solarbuzz April 2011 United States Deal Tracker

Non-residential PV systems in the US market range from just 50 kilowatts up to hundreds of megawatts. Even with the growing utility presence in the market, the corporate and government sub-segments still have 76% of the completed projects since January 1, 2010.

Utility-scale projects under development are found in 29 states, but four states account for 80% of this total, measured in terms of MW. This segment is increasingly being serviced by specialist project developers, but also directly by major cell and module manufacturers acting in that role. The top 10 developers account for 57% of the utility pipeline in MW terms. “The non-residential segment has traditionally been driven by corporate and government customers,” Craig Stevens, president of Solarbuzz. “As Renewable Portfolio Standards take effect, utilities have become a key driver of medium term market growth.”

In terms of numbers of non-residential projects, the top 10 states are California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, North Carolina, Nevada, and Florida.

Over 260 different installation companies are servicing the identified 1150 non-residential projects that buy their modules either directly from manufacturers or through distributors. First Solar, Suntech Power, Sharp, Yingli Green Energy, and SolarWorld are the most represented module manufacturers in this segment.

The installed system pricing data shows that the largest US projects are now being completed in the range of $3-4 per watt DC. The reduction in non-residential PV system prices is key to stimulating US market growth.

The Solarbuzz United States Deal Tracker report tracks installed system prices by project across the country, including the fast growing utility segment—providing unrivalled price transparency to aid bid responses by the solar industry and for the purchasers of systems. The parameters in the database for each installation include owner or host name, project developer, installer, system size, system type (ground mount, roof mount, BIPV, tracking and carports), Power Purchase Agreement provider, city and state, timing of installation and installed pricing data.

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City of Sacramento and SolarCity to Install Solar Power @ City Hall

2011-04-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

Following Sacramento City Council approval last week, SolarCity and the City of Sacramento are moving forward to install 1.9 megawatts—more than 8,000 solar panels—of new solar power capacity across four municipal sites later this year. The project is expected to be the largest solar power project undertaken by the City of Sacramento. Once operational, the panels are expected to produce approximately 2.6 million kilowatt-hours of solar electricity in their first year, enough to power approximately 250 homes. SolarCity will finance, install and maintain the solar installations.

“This project is a triple win for Sacramento—it will save taxpayers money by lowering the City’s energy costs, reduce pollution by generating renewable power, and create more local jobs to install the panels,” said Mayor Kevin Johnson. “It’s our goal to become a greener city and generating clean energy on our facilities is keeping with that commitment.”

The sites identified as part of this project include:

City Hall in downtown

Sacramento building at 300 Richards Boulevard that houses the police department and building and planning offices

Corporation yard on Meadowview Road that houses the City’s sanitation fleet and other services

South Area Corporation Yard off Fruitridge and 28th Street

As part of the agreement, the City of Sacramento will pay for the power produced through a power purchase agreement (PPA) at a rate that is anticipated to be lower than what they pay for grid electricity, which is expected to create savings for taxpayers over the systems’ lifetimes.

“The City’s new solar projects should help us pass the 100-employee mark in Sacramento this year,” said Dennis Cox, regional director for SolarCity. “It’s possible for Sacramento businesses and residents to save money by using cleaner power, just as the City is doing, and we expect solar adoption to continue to increase in the area as a result of the City’s leadership.”

Free Report on the Basics of Solar!

Fluor Selected by SunPower to Build 20-Megawatt Arizona Solar Power Plant ...04.04.2011

2011-04-04T15:19:00.000-07:00

United States Texas. SunPower Corporation has awarded Fluor a construction contract for the 20-megawatt Copper Crossing photovoltaic solar power plant on 144 acres of formerly private agricultural land in Pinal County, Arizona. Fluor will book the undisclosed contract value into backlog in the first quarter of 2011.

"This project is a significant win that not only bolsters Fluor's growing portfolio of solar work, but also highlights our expertise across the entire renewable energy sector," said Dave Dunning, president of Fluor's Power Group. "SunPower Corporation leads the industry in solar photovoltaic technology and project development and our primary objective is to assist them in accomplishing their operational and business goals with successful completion of the Copper Crossing Project."

Iberdrola Renewables is developing Copper Crossing and will own and operate it. The company will sell the electricity under a long-term contract to utility provider Salt River Project for distribution on the region's utility grid. The project will create employment opportunities and provide revenue for schools, health, fire and other critical services in Pinal County.

The plant will use the SunPower Oasis(TM) Power Plant product, a fully integrated, modular solar power block that is engineered to rapidly and cost-effectively deploy utility-scale solar projects while optimizing land use. Each power block integrates the SunPower(TM) T0 Tracker with SunPower's high-efficiency, E19 series solar panels, pre-manufactured system cabling, and other advanced features. The power block kits are shipped pre-assembled to the job site for rapid field installation and offer the highest capacity factor and the most reliable long-term performance.

"Fluor has been supporting SunPower on a number of fronts since 2009 and we are excited about the opportunity to build this project using SunPower's new Oasis product at Copper Crossing," said Brad Friesen, vice president of Fluor's Renewables business line.

The Solar plant, which began construction December 2010, is expected to create approximately 200 jobs during construction, and will be fully operational in 2011.

Building Solar Panels for your own energy use: http://bit.ly/h6OvFy

LDK Solar Finalizes Acquisition of 70% of Solar Power, Inc

2011-04-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

Xinyu City, Asia Pacific China.

LDK Solar and Solar Power, Inc. have finalized the cquisition of a 70% interest in SPI for approximately $33 million. LDK paid an initial $10 million in January and today announced it has finalized the transaction with a second payment of $23 million.

The transaction adds significant financial strength to SPI's balance sheet, enabling the acceleration of the development of its project pipeline, which primarily consists of utility-scale power plants and commercial/industrial distributed generation systems. SPI's growing development portfolio and pipeline, in turn, should provide LDK Solar with enhanced downstream benefit to its vertical integration model through module supply for large-scale projects.
"We are very pleased to have this transaction concluded," said Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO for LDK Solar. "SPI provides a strong strategic complement to our downstream vertical integration opportunities and provides LDK Solar and SPI the opportunity to jointly explore opening manufacturing operations in the U.S. to further enhance SPI's competitive advantage in North America."
"We are happy to be part of the growing LDK global team," said Steve Kircher CEO for SPI. "The strength of our newly combined vertical platform should provide us significant competitive advantages going forward," Mr. Kircher concluded.

Free Report on the Solar Basics ~ http://www.solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

Silfab and Alderville First Nation......

2011-04-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

.....Sign Contract for 5 MW Solar Farm

04.01.2011

A contract to supply and support a 5 MW ground mounted solar photovoltaic system, composed of 20,410 modules, was signed yesterday between Alderville First Nation (Alderville), a First Nation community within Southeastern Ontario, and Silfab Ontario Inc. preparing to inaugurate its new PV module manufacturing plant in Mississauga, Ontario.

The announcement was made by Franco Traverso, President and CEO of Silfab Ontario Inc., and Chief James Marsden, Chief of Alderville First Nation, after signing the agreement.

The ground mounted system, will use the Silfab SLA245M high-efficiency modules made from 60 mono-crystalline high efficiency silicon cells produced in Ontario in accordance with the Ontario Feed In Tariff program domestic content requirements.

The solar farm, consisting of a combination of fixed mounted racks and single axis trackers, will be installed on Alderville owned properties and is expected to be operational by November 2011 with an estimated production of approximately 5.7 million kWh per year, equivalent to over 80,000 tons of avoided CO2 emissions during the lifetime of the facility.
Silfab and Alderville share a common vision of creating a partnership that includes the training of local resources and the development of a Centre of Excellence for advancing solar energy research, education, and training. Thanks to expertise gained in over 30 years of working at the highest level in the solar photovoltaic field, Franco Traverso and his staff intend to transfer a wealth of knowledge to the First Nation, enabling the community to be self-sufficient in the management of the facility and be capable of developing future solar power projects.

“We are very proud” - explains Franco Traverso, CEO and President of Silfab Ontario, as well as a pioneer of the photovoltaic industry since 1981 – “to be part of this important project for the Alderville First Nation community. We see great opportunities for similar communities and we are optimistic about the growth of the photovoltaic industry in Canada. Alderville has demonstrated great foresight and planning in the development of this project. We are pleased to be part of this vision and partnership.”
”We are very excited to be working with Silfab on our ground mounted solar facility” says Chief James Marsden, Chief of Alderville First Nation. “We are very impressed with the solar PV modules that Silfab produces. Their expertise in the photovoltaic industry was very evident in the way they approached this project. Programs like the Ontario Feed In Tariff program are giving communities, like Alderville, an opportunity to bring additional economic opportunities into the community to benefit its current membership and its future generations.”
Solar Energy ~ http://www.solarpanelsenergysystems.com/

New Energy Enters Development Agreement with NREL

2011-03-31T19:57:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-29T17:22:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-28T13:53:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-27T12:12:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-25T14:49:00.000-07:00

IN A PROMISING GROWTH MARKET
Register and Book Housing Today.
Don't delay!
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.
Activate your new knowledge and partnerships to make the most of solar power.

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

2011-03-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-24T00:11:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-21T19:52:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-20T17:57:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-18T21:06:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-17T21:06:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-15T20:02:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-14T17:42:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-13T17:01:00.001-07:00

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

2011-03-11T17:48:00.000-08:00

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

2011-03-10T19:34:00.000-08:00

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

2011-03-09T20:32:00.000-08:00

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

2011-03-08T17:34:00.000-08:00

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

2011-03-07T19:24:00.000-08:00

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.

2011-03-06T08:45:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-03-05T10:43:00.000-08:00

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

2011-03-04T21:27:00.000-08:00

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 ..

2011-03-03T15:35:00.000-08:00

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

2011-03-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

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

2011-03-01T21:28:00.000-08:00

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!

Applied Materials Reports Results to January 30, 2011 ...02.28.2011

2011-02-28T20:58:00.000-08:00

Santa Clara, United States California.

Applied Materials has reported results for its first quarter of fiscal 2011 ended Jan. 30, 2011. Applied generated orders of $2.97 billion, net sales of $2.69 billion, operating income of $674 million, and net income of $506 million or $0.38 per share. Non-GAAP operating income was $659 million, and non-GAAP net income was $484 million or $0.36 per share.

"Applied's solid first quarter was driven by continued strength in semiconductor systems and record profitability in solar," said Mike Splinter, chairman and chief executive officer. "We see momentum building in our end markets and expect our company's fiscal year revenue to be more than $11 billion, exceeding our previous record by over a billion dollars. We now expect wafer fab equipment spending to be up 10 to 15 percent from approximately $31 billion in calendar 2010, with crystalline silicon solar equipment spending rising by more than 30 percent year over year."

"On a year-over-year basis, our non-GAAP earnings per share grew more than 170 percent on a 45 percent increase in net sales, demonstrating our focus on operating efficiencies and profitability improvement," said George Davis, executive vice president and chief financial officer. "With the improving market outlook, we expect to deliver record non-GAAP earnings of more than $1.50 per share in fiscal 2011."

Energy and Environmental Solutions (EES) had record orders of $668 million in the first quarter, up 22 percent from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. Net sales were $476 million, down 22 percent from the fourth quarter which included $230 million in thin film equipment sales. Net sales of crystalline silicon equipment set a record in the first quarter. Operating income increased to $144 million or 30 percent of net sales and included a favorable adjustment of $28 million related to a previously announced restructuring program. Excluding this adjustment, operating income would have been 24 percent of net sales.

Additional Quarterly Financial Information

Gross margin was 42.3 percent, slightly higher than 42.2 percent in the fourth quarter.

Operating cash flow was $425 million or 16 percent of net sales.

Cash dividend payments totaled $93 million.

The company used $150 million to repurchase 10.9 million shares of its common stock.

Cash, cash equivalents and investments increased to $4.10 billion at quarter end.

The effective tax rate was 25.5 percent and included a benefit related to the reinstatement of the federal R&D tax credit, which lowered the rate by 1.9 points.

Backlog increased by $292 million to $3.54 billion.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2011, Applied expects net sales to be in the range of flat to up 5 percent quarter over quarter. The company expects non-GAAP EPS to be in the range of $0.34 to $0.38, which excludes known charges related to completed acquisitions of approximately $0.01 per share.

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Technologies ..

2011-02-27T17:22:00.000-08:00

Three key elements in a solar cell form the basis of its manufacturing technology. The first is the semiconductor, which absorbs light and converts it into electron-hole pairs. The second is the semiconductor junction, which separates the photo-generated carriers (electrons and holes), and the third is the contacts on the front and back of the cell that allow the current to flow to the external circuit. The two main categories of technology are defined by the choice of the semiconductor: either crystalline silicon in a wafer form or thin films of other materials.

Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells – Market Share 80-90%
Historically, crystalline silicon (c-Si) has been used as the light-absorbing semiconductor in most solar cells, even though it is a relatively poor absorber of light and requires a considerable thickness (several hundred microns) of material. Nevertheless, it has proved convenient because it yields stable solar cells with good efficiencies (15-17%, half to two-thirds of the theoretical maximum) and uses process technology developed from the huge knowledge base of the microelectronics industry.

Two types of crystalline silicon are used in the industry. The first is monocrystalline, produced by slicing wafers (up to 150 mm diameter and 200 microns thick) from a high-purity single crystal boule. The second is multicrystalline silicon, made by sawing a cast block of silicon first into bars and then into wafers. The main trend in crystalline silicon cell manufacture involves a move toward multicrystalline technology.

For both mono and multicrystalline Si, a semiconductor junction is formed by diffusing phosphorus into the top surface of the silicon wafer. Screen-printed contacts are applied to the front and rear of the cell, with the front contact pattern specially designed to allow maximum light exposure of the Si material with minimum electrical losses in the cell.

Some companies are trying to bypass the inefficiencies of crystal growth/casting and wafer sawing processes by using new production technologies, even though these processes have issues involving lower growth/pulling rates, poorer uniformity, and surface roughness. One method grows a ribbon of silicon, either as a plain two-dimensional strip or as an octagonal column, by pulling it from a silicon melt. Another method melts silicon powder on an inexpensive conducting substrate.

Each c-Si cell generates about 0.5 volts. Cells are usually soldered together in a series to produce a module with higher output voltage. The cells are hermetically sealed under toughened, high transmission glass to produce highly reliable, weather resistant modules that may be warranted for up to 25 years. Modules are designed to meet rigorous certification tests set by international standards agencies. Click here for more details on PV module certification.

Thin Film Solar Cells – Market Share: 10-20%
The high cost of crystalline silicon wafers has led the industry to look at less expensive materials to make solar cells. The selected materials have all been strong light absorbers. They also only need to be about 1 micron thick, so materials costs can be significantly reduced.

The most common materials used are amorphous silicon (a-Si), or the polycrystalline materials: cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium (gallium), and diselenide (CIS or CIGS). Each of these materials can be deposited over a large area onto substrates of about 1 meter, and hence can be used for high volume manufacturing. The thin film semiconductor layers are deposited onto either coated glass or a stainless steel sheet. A transparent conducting oxide layer forms the front electrical contact of the cell, and a metal layer forms the rear contact.

Amorphous silicon is the most developed of the complex thin film technologies. In its simplest form, the cell structure has a single sequence of p-i-n layers. Such cells suffer from significant degradation in their power output (in the range of 15-35%) when exposed to the sun. Thinner layers can be used to increase the electric field strength across the material and to provide better stability. However, the use of thinner layers reduces light absorption, and hence cell efficiency.

The industry has developed tandem and even triple layer devices that contain p-i-n cells, stacked one on top of the other. In the cell, at the base of the structure, the a-Si is sometimes alloyed with germanium to reduce its band gap and to further improve light absorption. This added complexity has a downside though; the processes are more complicated, and process yields are likely to be lower.

Thin film cells are laminated to produce a weather-resistant and environmentally-robust module. Although they are less efficient, thin films are potentially cheaper than c-Si because of their lower materials costs and larger substrate.

One interesting avenue for further development of amorphous silicon is the use of microcrystalline silicon, which seeks to combine the stable high efficiencies of c-Si technology with the simpler and cheaper large-area deposition technology of a-Si.

Emerging thin film technologies are starting to make significant progress in grid-connect markets, but crystalline technologies continue to dominate. Thin films have long held a niche position in low power (<50W) and consumer electronics applications. Thin film may offer particular design options for building integrated applications.

Developing Technologies: Concentrators
Solar cells usually operate more efficiently under concentrated light. This has led to the development of a range of approaches using mirrors or lenses to focus light onto specially designed cells. Heat sinks, or active cooling of the cells, have also been used to dissipate the large amount of generated heat. Unlike conventional flat plate PV arrays, concentrator systems require direct sunlight, and will not operate under cloudy conditions. They generally follow the sun's path through the sky during the day by use of a tracking mechanism.

Concentrators have not yet achieved widespread application in photovoltaics, but solar concentration has been widely used in solar thermal electricity generation technology. For example, generated heat has been used to power a turbine.

Batteries
Rechargeable batteries are the most effective storage mechanism available. Remaining capacity can be used up by the electrochemical conversion process of the battery. Battery storage capacity is rated in ampere hours, which is the current delivered by the battery over a set number of hours, at a normal voltage, and at a temperature of 25ºC.

Most PV systems use lead acid batteries or conventional flooded batteries. Nickel cadmium batteries are usually the best option when very high reliability is required.

Charge Controllers
A charge controller is used to prevent over- and under-charging of the battery. A charge controller is typically necessary if the peak charging rate of the solar module is more than 1.5% of the battery ampere hour capacity. The quality of the regulator is a key factor in the reliability of the overall system because it aligns the depth of discharge with the battery temperature and the rate of discharge. Blocking diodes perform the role of preventing reverse discharge of the battery through the modules at times of low to no sunlight. This prevents damage to the modules and reduces energy loss.

Monitoring current and voltage throughout the system is important for safety and overall system performance. A voltmeter will monitor the performance of the battery, while an ammeter monitors the output of the solar modules.

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