Solar Power // Current TV

The World’s First Baseload (24/7) Solar Power Plant

In the future solar power plants will be as plentiful as personal computers or cell... more

covelogibbs
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11 months ago
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32 comments

Value of solar power far exceeds its cost

Solar power has a monetary value as much as 10 times higher than its energy value,... more

lordsbassman
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11 months ago
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2 comments

US solar energy industry continues record setting growth in 2011

The U.S. solar energy industry continues to be one of the fastest growth sectors in the economy.

In the first quarter of 2011, 252 megawatts (MW) of grid-connected solar photovoltaics (PV) were installed in the US, 66% year-over-year growth over Q1 2010 installations, according to a report released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

348 MW of PV modules were manufactured in the US during the first quarter, a 31% increase over Q1 2010.

Two major factors are driving growth: rapidly declining solar equipment costs and a rush to take advantage of Federal incentives (Section 1603 Treasury program) that expire at the end of 2011 (and may not be renewed given partisan politics).

Prices are also much lower for homeowners and businesses to buy solar systems: as technology costs fall and the industry matures, it's able to capitalize on greater economies of scale and streamline project development and installation.

All three PV market sectors (residential, commercial and utility) continue to grow, with commercial installations showing the strongest gains.

"On the whole, the U.S. is currently the PV industry's most attractive and stable growth market," says Shayle Kann, Managing Director of Solar at GTM Research, which collaborated on the report. "This is reflected in our report's quarterly market data and in the comments from global suppliers, distributors, and developers, all of whom see the U.S. positioned to nearly double its global market share in 2011 and support a greater diversity of installation types than has been previously seen in any leading demand center."

Geographically, the market is concentrated in just a few key states, however. In Q1 2010, the top seven states hosted 82% of installations, but in Q1 2011, 88% of installations were in those states.

The pace of installations grew more than 50% in 11 of the 21 states analyzed in the report.

"With analysts predicting the U.S. to become the world's largest solar market within the next few years, manufacturers are increasingly looking to the U.S. to site their facilities," says Tom Kimbis, SEIA Vice-President of Strategy and External Affairs. "They are finding significant value in manufacturing close to their expected source of demand. This strong demand continues to make solar one of the fastest growing industries in the United States and a source of thousands of solar jobs from manufacturing and installation to engineering and sales."

More at the link.The U.S. solar energy industry continues to be one of the fastest growth sectors in... more

JanforGore
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11 months ago
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115 comments

DOEnergy backs funding for SOLAR ROOFTOPS! (Finally...about damn time!)

The U.S. Department of Energy said on Wednesday it’s offering a partial... more

LOrion
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11 months ago
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3 comments

Have We All Become Hippies?

Once was, if you talked about saving energy or going solar, people figured you were... more

joeeddy
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12 months ago
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0 comments

Can a Laptop Be 100% Solar-Powered? This One Might Be...

I love solar-powered gadgets. I have a solar charger (similar to the one in these... more

JSDavis82
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12 months ago
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1 comment

Solar Powered Laptop Concept By Andrea Ponti

Designer Andrea Ponti is come up with his new concept laptop that is totally powered... more

faisy
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12 months ago
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0 comments

Only 70 hours to go to help get a renewable energy project into schools!

Over 80 people have now pledged over $7k to donate the 'Power Families' book... more

PowerFamilies
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12 months ago
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Infographic: What if Solar Got Fossil Fuel Subsidies?

Germany's kicking our ass here! The infographic pretty much says it all.... more

ThirdSection
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1 year ago
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10 comments

Solar Impulse plane maiden international flight lands safely in Brussels

I just watched the landing live and it was incredible. History is being made.

JanforGore
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1 year ago
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1 comment

United Solar Announces Order From India's JSW Green Energy

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 9, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Solar, the leading global manufacturer of flexible, thin-film solar laminates and a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) (Nasdaq:ENER), announced today an order for 500 kilowatts (kWp) of its UNI-SOLAR® laminates from JSW Green Energy, a 100% subsidiary of JSW Energy Ltd. of Mumbai, India.

JSW Energy, part of the JSW Group of companies, is one of India's fastest growing power companies and is working towards becoming one of the leading private power producers in the country. As part of this growth strategy, JSW Energy desires to utilize clean, renewable solar energy in its platform of power generation.

"JSW Green Energy is keen on developing special solar products suitable for rooftop mounting wherein UNI-SOLAR panels fit in very well. We plan to utilize their extensive solar photovoltaic (PV) industry expertise and superior flexible solar technology for on-grid solar applications in India. We want to establish a long and successful relationship with United Solar and look forward to employing their unique thin-film technology in pioneering rooftop projects in India," commented Mr. Shishir Tamotia, CEO, JSW Green Energy Ltd.

JSW Green Energy Ltd (JSWGEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of JSW Energy Ltd, is an independent entity focusing on the development of the renewable energy business in India. JSWGEL is a peak power generator company and currently is engaged in engineering, procurement and construction of rooftop integrated grid-interactive/off-grid solar PV systems. JSWGEL envisages being a leader in the supply, design and installation of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) and building applied photovoltaic (BAPV) products in India. JSWGEL is also in the business of setting up bio-gas based anerobic digesters across the country that would be utilized for cooking and rural electrification purposes.

"We are pleased to begin this strategic relationship with JSW," said Dr. Subhendu Guha, Chairman of United Solar and Executive Vice President of Photovoltaic Technology, Energy Conversion Devices. "We view India as a key growth market for us in the future, and we believe that our UNI-SOLAR products are uniquely suited for the high heat and high insolation that is found in the Indian market. We look forward to future business with the JSW Group."

United Solar has more than 25 years experience in the industry of solar power generation, and is the largest manufacturer of lightweight, flexible solar panels in the world.AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 9, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Solar, the leading global... more

ptr23
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1 year ago
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Radiate

It doesn’t take a Nostradamus to see the host of calamities our primeval mindset... more

Stephenm1779
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1 year ago
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1 comment

Solar Power Goes Viral: Researchers Use Virus to Improve Solar-Cell Efficiency

Researchers at MIT have found a way to make significant improvements to the... more

GoldenHeart
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1 year ago
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1 comment

Biorhythms: Nj going solar

I took this video to show that there are good things going on in local communities and... more

JanforGore
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1 year ago
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42 comments

Maldives Plans Floating, Solar-Powered Golf Course With Underwater Tunnels

If a round of golf is your idea of a relaxing day of vacation, you're definitely... more

JSDavis82
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1 year ago
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3 comments

A Paris School Turns to the Sewers for a Sustainable Heat Source

Paris has been on an alternative energy roll as of late: installing hydropower... more

suzane
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1 year ago
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0 comments

Department of Energy Announces Loan Guarantee for BrightSource Energy Inc. (California Solar Project)

The Department of Energy has finalized a $1.6 billion loan guarantee with the... more

ptr23
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1 year ago
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0 comments

Al Gore invests $10m. in Israeli solar energy projects

Gore's cleantech fund to finance Tigo Energy Inc., which develops solutions to maximize output by photovoltaic installations.

Tigo Energy Inc. has raised $10 million in its third financing round plus a $10 million credit line from Climate Solutions Fund LP, managed Generation Investment Management LLP, whose chairman is former US Vice President Al Gore. Tigo develops solutions to maximize output by photovoltaic installations.

Tigo CEO Sam Arditi and president and COO Ran Hadar founded the company in 2007. The company is headquartered in Silicon Valley and has a development center in Kfar Saba with 30 employees.

Hadar told "Globes" today that demand is rising for its products, and that proceeds from the financing round would be used to increase production capacity and the company's global sales and marketing network.

The investment from Climate Solutions Fund brings the amount of capital raised by Tigo to $40 million. The company's previous investors are Israel's Clal Energy Ltd. and Israel Cleantech Ventures Funds), Matrix Partners and OVP Venture Partners of the US, and Taiwan's Inventec Appliances Corporation.

Hadar said, "Generation Investment is one of the world's largest cleantech funds, and it recognizes the importance of the electronics of solar energy systems and the growth potential of the sector. The fresh capital will enable us to pick up the pace of our business and greatly expand our product development and production in order to expand our marketing. The investment also demonstrates the recognition of our technology and vision to be at the industry's forefront."

Tigo's product, the Maximizer boosts power output of photovoltaic systems of any size from residential to utility scale by up to 20% by reducing the effects of shade, dust, clouds and uneven temperature on system performance. Israeli engineers developed the technology.

Hadar added, "Israel has 2,000 hours of sunlight a year. Our component turns PV panels into smart panels that add 400 hours of sunlight. This is real news for the industry and it charmed the people at Generation Investment, which decided that it was worthwhile to invest in us."

Tigo has installed several Maximizer at PV systems worldwide, including at a 600-kilowatt facility in California and at a 500-kilowatt facility at Moshav Tagor in Israel. "We're getting good feedback from the people at Tagor, who say that energy exploitation rose 15%. We have a work plan for the period ahead, which includes installing our product extensively in Israel and other countries," said Hadar.

Hadar said that PV installations were being built at a rate of 10 megawatts a month, including in Europe and Asia, which boost Tigo's growth rate multifold. "Our sales grow 400% per quarter. In addition to the latest investment, we have a solid foundation for further development activity. By the end of the coming year, we'll market solar panels embedded with the Maximizer," said Hadar.

Tigo expects $30 million in sales in 2011.Gore's cleantech fund to finance Tigo Energy Inc., which develops solutions to... more

crystalman
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1 year ago
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2 comments

Youth at Powershift 2011 unhappy with Obama energy policies

In 2008, Courtney Hight fell in love with Barack Obama’s message of hope and change, especially his stalwart support of renewable and alternative energy. She worked long hours as the youth vote director for his campaign in Florida.

But lately the young activist has started to feel that President Obama isn’t quite the man she fell for. During his energy security speech at Georgetown University in March, when he said oil drilling and clean coal would help power America’s energy future, Hight said she accepted what friends told her for weeks: Obama changed.

On Friday, Hight and 10,000 other young clean-energy advocates will open the third Power Shift conference at the Washington Convention Center in the District. The three-day climate summit takes place every other year.

But instead of endorsing the president’s energy policy, as in 2009, they plan to lambaste it, saying that Obama is siding with what they consider to be the dark side — big oil and coal-fired power plants. Organizers are planning a demonstration Monday with 5,000 participants outside the White House.

“When I looked at that energy security speech, it seemed like something BP wrote,” said Hight, 31, of Scottsdale, Ariz., who is co-director of Power Shift 2011. “We want to make sure the president is seeing that we’re done with this. We need them to draw a line in the sand. We need him to stand up to the polluters.”

Considering the political environment in Washington, where congressional Republicans are fighting Obama’s every step, some say Power Shift’s demands are unrealistic.

And Obama’s energy security speech wasn’t devoid of messages that Power Shift’s organizers favor. He said he wanted to cut America’s oil dependence by a third in the next decade, put a million more electric vehicles on the roads by 2015 and help Americans upgrade their homes and businesses with energy-efficient building materials that could save them tens of billions of dollars a year.

But when Obama said his administration has approved 39 new shallow-water drilling permits and an additional seven deepwater permits in recent weeks, following the disastrous Deepwater Horizon oil spill last year in the Gulf of Mexico, it was akin to dragging his fingernails across a blackboard for his base of young environmental voters.

cont.In 2008, Courtney Hight fell in love with Barack Obama’s message of hope and... more

JanforGore
added this
1 year ago
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20 comments

Google invests US$168 million in world’s largest solar power tower plant

Google has chipped in a US$168 million investment in what will be the world's... more

suzane
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1 year ago
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0 comments

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