By RANDALL CHASE (AP) – 4 hours ago
WILMINGTON, Del. — Improvements in photovoltaic technology will play a key role in meeting the world's energy needs as the global population soars to more than 9 billion people over the next 40 years, DuPont CEO Ellen Kullman said Monday.
At a ceremony announcing the opening of a new photovoltaic applications lab at DuPont's Chestnut Run facility, Kullman said the expanding population will significantly increase global demand for alternative energy sources.
The challenge for DuPont, officials said, is making that energy affordable.
"It has to be an economic reality to help the world solve these issues," Kullman told an audience that included DuPont employees and customers, Gov. Jack Markell and U.S. Rep. Michael Castle.
Research at the new lab, which will work in collaboration with DuPont photovoltaic labs in Switzerland and China, is aimed at using new materials and engineering processes to make harvesting and using energy from the sun more efficient and less expensive. The ultimate goal is to achieve "grid parity," where the cost of electricity from solar energy systems is equal to that for electricity from conventional energy sources such as fossil fuels.
"Today, there's still a pretty big gap," said David Miller, president of DuPont Electronics and Communications.
Miller said DuPont is taking a three-pronged approach toward improvements in solar energy applications: increasing the energy efficiency and power output of photovoltaic cells, extending the durability and life of photovoltaic modules so that savings from the upfront costs can be realized, and reducing manufacturing and installation costs.
"All three of these components are key to helping the PV industry achieve grid parity, which is the important tipping point for a truly sustainable industry," said Steve Freilich, director of materials science and engineering for DuPont.
DuPont officials have said they expect sales of photovoltaics to grow by more than 50 percent this year and exceed $1 billion in 2011, a year ahead of schedule.
Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Suntech Power Expanding in China
June 6 (Reuters) - Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd China's largest solar panel marker, plans to invest 2.68 billion yuan ($393 million) to build 1 gigawatt in additional production capacity in Shanghai over the next three years as it rushes to meet surging demand, Chairman Zhengrong Shi said.
Despite an expected cut in German solar power subsidies in July that analysts warn will dampen third-quarter demand, Shi told a briefing for reporters on Saturday that returns for power producers in that market would still be attractive, while other markets such as the United States were growing rapidly.
"We're all sold out for this year. We're short of capacity and can't meet our clients' needs," he said.
"We have a backlog in the second quarter. We have a backlog in the third quarter. We haven't seen any impact from the reduction in German subsidies."
He predicted that Germany, the biggest market for solar cells, would see 70 to 80 percent full-year growth this year, while the U.S. market would double in size in the second half of the year from the first half, reaching 1 GW for the full year.
The first phase of the company's new Shanghai plant, with 180 megawatts of production capacity, would be completed at the end of June, he said, putting it easily on course to reach its total production capacity target for this year of 1.4 GW, after reaching 1.2 GW at the end of the first quarter.
Shi added that expansion of thin-film manufacturing capacity in Shanghai, now at 200 megawatts, may be delayed due to low competitiveness of thin-film modules and a need for further research and development to boost conversion rates.
He also reiterated that the fall in the euro was taking a heavy toll on the company's bottom line.
Despite an expected cut in German solar power subsidies in July that analysts warn will dampen third-quarter demand, Shi told a briefing for reporters on Saturday that returns for power producers in that market would still be attractive, while other markets such as the United States were growing rapidly.
"We're all sold out for this year. We're short of capacity and can't meet our clients' needs," he said.
"We have a backlog in the second quarter. We have a backlog in the third quarter. We haven't seen any impact from the reduction in German subsidies."
He predicted that Germany, the biggest market for solar cells, would see 70 to 80 percent full-year growth this year, while the U.S. market would double in size in the second half of the year from the first half, reaching 1 GW for the full year.
The first phase of the company's new Shanghai plant, with 180 megawatts of production capacity, would be completed at the end of June, he said, putting it easily on course to reach its total production capacity target for this year of 1.4 GW, after reaching 1.2 GW at the end of the first quarter.
Shi added that expansion of thin-film manufacturing capacity in Shanghai, now at 200 megawatts, may be delayed due to low competitiveness of thin-film modules and a need for further research and development to boost conversion rates.
He also reiterated that the fall in the euro was taking a heavy toll on the company's bottom line.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Sanyo and UC San Diego to Develop Smart Grid Technology
Sanyo Electric Group announced on Friday that it had agreed to participate in and finance a joint development program with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). This is Sanyo's first energy project with an American university. Sanyo will contribute $320 million over three years to the research project.In this program, Sanyo’s “Smart Energy System,” based on the “Smart Grid” concept, will mesh with solar forecasting systems, energy storage, and general energy management technology developed at UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering. The project aims to enable stable, reliable, renewable energy generation in areas that depend increasingly on renewable energy such as California.
“It is our hope that through this agreement we can create a value-added system to offer to the United States as a whole, expanding the concept of a smart-grid society beyond the boundaries of this campus and San Diego.” said Mitsuru Homma, Executive Vice President of Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd, in a statement.The first step in the joint research involves applying a solar forecasting system to the Smart Energy System, in order to increase the efficiency of power supply.
"Sanyo is a leader in smart energy systems, and we look forward to contributing with our own research to [create] more efficient, renewable energy solutions," said Frieder Seible, Dean of the Jacobs School in a statement.
Beginning in July, two UCSD students will work at the Sanyo’s headquarter in Osaka, Japan. They will study solar energy generation technology by working on the Smart Energy System.
“It is our hope that through this agreement we can create a value-added system to offer to the United States as a whole, expanding the concept of a smart-grid society beyond the boundaries of this campus and San Diego.” said Mitsuru Homma, Executive Vice President of Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd, in a statement.The first step in the joint research involves applying a solar forecasting system to the Smart Energy System, in order to increase the efficiency of power supply.
"Sanyo is a leader in smart energy systems, and we look forward to contributing with our own research to [create] more efficient, renewable energy solutions," said Frieder Seible, Dean of the Jacobs School in a statement.
Beginning in July, two UCSD students will work at the Sanyo’s headquarter in Osaka, Japan. They will study solar energy generation technology by working on the Smart Energy System.
Nevada Commits to Solar
By Stephanie Tavares
Nevada is serious about going solar.
The state already has more solar energy per capita than any other, but with its small population that hasn't meant much to solar developers and manufacturers.
Enter the state Office of Energy.
It announced this evening plans to contract with solar photovoltaic installers and developers in the state to build solar installations -- including panel-covered parking shades -- at several state buildings across Nevada.
The office is preparing a request for proposals that should be ready for developers and installers by the end of the month.
It is seeking proposals for projects at 15 specific sites, including nine in Clark County, as well as proposals for Department of Corrections sites.
Among the proposed projects are solar panel-covered parking shades at the Grant Sawyer building in Las Vegas, the Henderson, Flamingo Road and Decatur Boulevard Department of Motor Vehicle buildings, and shaded parking structures and removable solar installations on vacant land between Charleston and Oakey boulevards.
"We will lead by example and make use of clean solar power for state buildings," Gov. Jim Gibbons said in a statement. "We will save taxpayers millions of dollars in utility costs."
The new solar installations are to be paid for out of money set aside to pay electricity bills on state buildings.
The state is expecting the proposals to include contract details by which the state will pay the installer back the costs of components and installation through a set per kilowatt hour fee. With the cost of solar panels dropping over the past few years, the state expects the fee proposed by the installers to be less than the cost of buying electricity during the day from NV Energy.
The endeavor is inspired by a recently completed project at the state National Guard facility, which was overseen by state Energy Director Jim Groth.
Nevada is serious about going solar.
The state already has more solar energy per capita than any other, but with its small population that hasn't meant much to solar developers and manufacturers.
Enter the state Office of Energy.
It announced this evening plans to contract with solar photovoltaic installers and developers in the state to build solar installations -- including panel-covered parking shades -- at several state buildings across Nevada.
The office is preparing a request for proposals that should be ready for developers and installers by the end of the month.
It is seeking proposals for projects at 15 specific sites, including nine in Clark County, as well as proposals for Department of Corrections sites.
Among the proposed projects are solar panel-covered parking shades at the Grant Sawyer building in Las Vegas, the Henderson, Flamingo Road and Decatur Boulevard Department of Motor Vehicle buildings, and shaded parking structures and removable solar installations on vacant land between Charleston and Oakey boulevards.
"We will lead by example and make use of clean solar power for state buildings," Gov. Jim Gibbons said in a statement. "We will save taxpayers millions of dollars in utility costs."
The new solar installations are to be paid for out of money set aside to pay electricity bills on state buildings.
The state is expecting the proposals to include contract details by which the state will pay the installer back the costs of components and installation through a set per kilowatt hour fee. With the cost of solar panels dropping over the past few years, the state expects the fee proposed by the installers to be less than the cost of buying electricity during the day from NV Energy.
The endeavor is inspired by a recently completed project at the state National Guard facility, which was overseen by state Energy Director Jim Groth.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Evergreen Solar Upgraded Technology
MARLBORO, Mass., Jun 03, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Evergreen Solar, Inc. (ESLR 0.89, 0.00, 0.00%) , a manufacturer of STRING RIBBON(TM) solar power products with its proprietary silicon wafer manufacturing technology, announced today that an 8-megawatt power plant in Neustrelitz, Germany used more than 7 megawatts of panels manufactured by Evergreen Solar. It is Evergreen Solar's largest installation in company history.
The project, which was designed and installed by IBC SOLAR Invest in cooperation with the city of Neustrelitz, uses approximately 34,000 IBC Polysol String Ribbon 200, 205 VG solar panels made by Evergreen Solar. It will provide enough electricity to power more than 2,600 homes in the area and will save more than 4,480 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.The installation is located on a former Soviet military training base. Prior to the installation, IBC SOLAR undertook a munitions recovery service to ensure the land -- approximately 250,000 square meters in size -- is now completely safe and free of any hidden mines.
"This is a milestone project for Evergreen Solar as we continue to expand our company's global footprint with the largest installation in company history," said Peter Rusch, Evergreen Solar's vice president of sales for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. "This project is especially significant as the land on which it is built has been completely remediated by IBC SOLAR and is now safe for everyday use. This is a significant environmental improvement for the area and is in line with Evergreen Solar's mission to provide the most environmentally friendly solar panels ever made. Today, Evergreen's String Ribbon solar panels have the smallest carbon footprint and quickest energy payback of any silicon-based panel."
"For IBC SOLAR quality has absolute priority. Our products are subject to severe inspections and quality controls at any stage of the production: at the manufacturer, at delivery and at our own test system," said Mr Norbert Hahn, board member of IBC SOLAR AG. "With our internal flasher and in our climate chamber we test durability and performance of modules. In addition, all systems are certified by independent testing institutes such as TUV, VDE and Fraunhofer ISE. The IBC Polysol Panels made by Evergreen Solar comply with our quality requirements."
About Evergreen Solar, Inc.
Evergreen Solar, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets STRING RIBBON(TM) solar power products using its proprietary, low-cost wafer technology. The company's patented wafer manufacturing technology uses significantly less polysilicon than conventional processes. Evergreen Solar's products provide reliable and environmentally clean electric power for residential and commercial applications globally. For more information about the company, please visit www.evergreensolar.com.
About IBC Solar
IBC SOLAR is a leading global photovoltaic specialist, offering complete solutions for power production from solar energy. The company covers the entire spectrum, from planning to the turnkey handover of photovoltaic installations. Globally, IBC SOLAR has already implemented more than 100,000 turnkey photovoltaic systems with a total power output of 880 megawatt (MWp). The scale of these installations ranges from large photovoltaic power stations and solar parks which feed electricity into the network, to off-grid systems. IBC SOLAR sells its photovoltaic components and systems over an extensive network of trade partners. As general contractor, the photovoltaic integrator plans and implements large scale solar projects. Through maintenance and monitoring, IBC SOLAR ensures an optimal performance of the solar park.
IBC SOLAR was founded in 1982 in Bad Staffelstein. IBC SOLAR is represented around the globe by affiliates in Netherlands, France, the Czech Republic, Spain, Greece and Malaysia and currently employs around 350 employees, of which 250 are in Germany. The international business group IBC SOLAR is directed from its headquarters in Bad Staffelstein.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6314642&lang=en
SOURCE: Evergreen Solar, Inc.
The project, which was designed and installed by IBC SOLAR Invest in cooperation with the city of Neustrelitz, uses approximately 34,000 IBC Polysol String Ribbon 200, 205 VG solar panels made by Evergreen Solar. It will provide enough electricity to power more than 2,600 homes in the area and will save more than 4,480 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.The installation is located on a former Soviet military training base. Prior to the installation, IBC SOLAR undertook a munitions recovery service to ensure the land -- approximately 250,000 square meters in size -- is now completely safe and free of any hidden mines.
"This is a milestone project for Evergreen Solar as we continue to expand our company's global footprint with the largest installation in company history," said Peter Rusch, Evergreen Solar's vice president of sales for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. "This project is especially significant as the land on which it is built has been completely remediated by IBC SOLAR and is now safe for everyday use. This is a significant environmental improvement for the area and is in line with Evergreen Solar's mission to provide the most environmentally friendly solar panels ever made. Today, Evergreen's String Ribbon solar panels have the smallest carbon footprint and quickest energy payback of any silicon-based panel."
"For IBC SOLAR quality has absolute priority. Our products are subject to severe inspections and quality controls at any stage of the production: at the manufacturer, at delivery and at our own test system," said Mr Norbert Hahn, board member of IBC SOLAR AG. "With our internal flasher and in our climate chamber we test durability and performance of modules. In addition, all systems are certified by independent testing institutes such as TUV, VDE and Fraunhofer ISE. The IBC Polysol Panels made by Evergreen Solar comply with our quality requirements."
About Evergreen Solar, Inc.
Evergreen Solar, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets STRING RIBBON(TM) solar power products using its proprietary, low-cost wafer technology. The company's patented wafer manufacturing technology uses significantly less polysilicon than conventional processes. Evergreen Solar's products provide reliable and environmentally clean electric power for residential and commercial applications globally. For more information about the company, please visit www.evergreensolar.com.
About IBC Solar
IBC SOLAR is a leading global photovoltaic specialist, offering complete solutions for power production from solar energy. The company covers the entire spectrum, from planning to the turnkey handover of photovoltaic installations. Globally, IBC SOLAR has already implemented more than 100,000 turnkey photovoltaic systems with a total power output of 880 megawatt (MWp). The scale of these installations ranges from large photovoltaic power stations and solar parks which feed electricity into the network, to off-grid systems. IBC SOLAR sells its photovoltaic components and systems over an extensive network of trade partners. As general contractor, the photovoltaic integrator plans and implements large scale solar projects. Through maintenance and monitoring, IBC SOLAR ensures an optimal performance of the solar park.
IBC SOLAR was founded in 1982 in Bad Staffelstein. IBC SOLAR is represented around the globe by affiliates in Netherlands, France, the Czech Republic, Spain, Greece and Malaysia and currently employs around 350 employees, of which 250 are in Germany. The international business group IBC SOLAR is directed from its headquarters in Bad Staffelstein.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6314642&lang=en
SOURCE: Evergreen Solar, Inc.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Solar News from SDG&E
SAN DIEGO, CA, Jun 02, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today introduced two new solar power demonstration installations that concentrate the light and heat from the sun to generate power in two distinctively different ways.
The concentrated solar power technology employed by the utility's El Cajon, Calif., operations center include:
-- The PowerDish(TM), built by Infinia of Kennewick, Wash., a mirrored
disc 15 feet in diameter that concentrates and focuses the sun's
energy onto a compact Stirling engine that converts that energy into
electricity. Each PowerDish produces up to 3,000 watts of electricity,
enough to power a typical home;
-- Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) Technology, built by SolFocus of
Mountain View, Calif., uses a reflective optical system to concentrate
sunlight 650 times onto very high-efficiency photovoltaic cells up to
twice as efficient as traditional silicon PV cells. The rectangular
system is 24 feet wide, 18 feet tall and is capable of generating
8,400 watts, enough to power three homes.
The total cost for both projects is $80,000 and will be funded by SDG&E's research and development group.
"The concentrated solar technology we are hosting on our property is more than a bright idea conceived in the lab, it represents the potential leading edge of new and practical forms of renewable power," said James P. Avery, senior vice president of power supply for SDG&E. "Hosting these demonstration projects on our property provides us the opportunity to determine the real-world applications of these systems and their potential on a utility scale."
The demonstrations are expected to continue for 12 to 18 months, after which SDG&E will share the results with the manufacturers.
Today's announcement supports SDG&E's plan to develop green technologies, meet its renewable energy goals and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The company has voluntarily agreed to obtain 33 percent of its electricity portfolio from renewables by 2020.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The utility's area spans 4,100 square miles. SDG&E is committed to creating ways to help our customers save energy and money every day. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (SRE 45.22, -0.56, -1.23%) , a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.
Media Contacts:
Art Larson/April Sharp
San Diego Gas & Electric
(877) 866-2066
www.sdge.com
The concentrated solar power technology employed by the utility's El Cajon, Calif., operations center include:
-- The PowerDish(TM), built by Infinia of Kennewick, Wash., a mirrored
disc 15 feet in diameter that concentrates and focuses the sun's
energy onto a compact Stirling engine that converts that energy into
electricity. Each PowerDish produces up to 3,000 watts of electricity,
enough to power a typical home;
-- Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) Technology, built by SolFocus of
Mountain View, Calif., uses a reflective optical system to concentrate
sunlight 650 times onto very high-efficiency photovoltaic cells up to
twice as efficient as traditional silicon PV cells. The rectangular
system is 24 feet wide, 18 feet tall and is capable of generating
8,400 watts, enough to power three homes.
The total cost for both projects is $80,000 and will be funded by SDG&E's research and development group.
"The concentrated solar technology we are hosting on our property is more than a bright idea conceived in the lab, it represents the potential leading edge of new and practical forms of renewable power," said James P. Avery, senior vice president of power supply for SDG&E. "Hosting these demonstration projects on our property provides us the opportunity to determine the real-world applications of these systems and their potential on a utility scale."
The demonstrations are expected to continue for 12 to 18 months, after which SDG&E will share the results with the manufacturers.
Today's announcement supports SDG&E's plan to develop green technologies, meet its renewable energy goals and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The company has voluntarily agreed to obtain 33 percent of its electricity portfolio from renewables by 2020.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The utility's area spans 4,100 square miles. SDG&E is committed to creating ways to help our customers save energy and money every day. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (SRE 45.22, -0.56, -1.23%) , a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.
Media Contacts:
Art Larson/April Sharp
San Diego Gas & Electric
(877) 866-2066
www.sdge.com
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Solar Technology to Keep Bugs Away from Panels
(Media-Newswire.com) - EAST LANSING, Mich. — Solar power might be nature’s most plentiful and benign source of energy, but shiny black solar cells can lure water insects away from critical breeding areas, a Michigan State University scientist and colleagues warn.
Applying white grids or other methods to break up the polarized reflection of light, however, makes mayflies and other aquatic insects far less likely to deposit eggs on the panels thinking that they are water, the group discovered.
“This research demonstrates that solar panels are a strong new source of polarized light pollution that creates ecological traps for many types of insect,” says Bruce Robertson, a research associate at MSU’s Kellogg Biological Station in Hickory Corners. “This is of significant conservation importance given the radical expansion in solar energy development and the strong negative impacts of ecological traps on animal populations.”
Using nonpolarizing white grids, he adds, demonstrates a novel approach to reducing the attractiveness of a false habitat by applying what biologists call habitat fragmentation. That is an effect that usually is harmful to species, but in this case promises to solve a conservation problem.
Robertson’s team estimates that adding white markings to solar cells might reduce their ability to collect solar energy by perhaps 1.8 percent, depending on the amount of space the strips cover.
Conventional solar cells share a problem with glass-clad buildings and other expanses of shiny dark surfaces – even vehicles. Reflected sunlight becomes polarized, or aligned in a single, often horizontal plane, which is how at least 300 species of insect recognize the surface of water bodies to lay their eggs.
When species such as mayflies and caddis flies mistake shiny dark surfaces for water, they set themselves up for reproductive failure and often become easy targets for predators, Robertson and colleagues noted in a recent online article in the journal Conservation Biology. Local population collapse could be a result, with cascading impacts on predators and other species up the food chain.
Humans typically recognize reflected sunlight only as glare, which polarized sunglasses overcome by filtering the horizontal waves through vertically polarized lenses.
Robertson conducted his research in Hungary with scientists associated with Eotvos University in Budapest and Szent Istvan University in Godollo, Hungary. Their work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and the Hungarian Science Foundation.
###
Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for more than 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 17 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.
Applying white grids or other methods to break up the polarized reflection of light, however, makes mayflies and other aquatic insects far less likely to deposit eggs on the panels thinking that they are water, the group discovered.
“This research demonstrates that solar panels are a strong new source of polarized light pollution that creates ecological traps for many types of insect,” says Bruce Robertson, a research associate at MSU’s Kellogg Biological Station in Hickory Corners. “This is of significant conservation importance given the radical expansion in solar energy development and the strong negative impacts of ecological traps on animal populations.”
Using nonpolarizing white grids, he adds, demonstrates a novel approach to reducing the attractiveness of a false habitat by applying what biologists call habitat fragmentation. That is an effect that usually is harmful to species, but in this case promises to solve a conservation problem.
Robertson’s team estimates that adding white markings to solar cells might reduce their ability to collect solar energy by perhaps 1.8 percent, depending on the amount of space the strips cover.
Conventional solar cells share a problem with glass-clad buildings and other expanses of shiny dark surfaces – even vehicles. Reflected sunlight becomes polarized, or aligned in a single, often horizontal plane, which is how at least 300 species of insect recognize the surface of water bodies to lay their eggs.
When species such as mayflies and caddis flies mistake shiny dark surfaces for water, they set themselves up for reproductive failure and often become easy targets for predators, Robertson and colleagues noted in a recent online article in the journal Conservation Biology. Local population collapse could be a result, with cascading impacts on predators and other species up the food chain.
Humans typically recognize reflected sunlight only as glare, which polarized sunglasses overcome by filtering the horizontal waves through vertically polarized lenses.
Robertson conducted his research in Hungary with scientists associated with Eotvos University in Budapest and Szent Istvan University in Godollo, Hungary. Their work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and the Hungarian Science Foundation.
###
Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for more than 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 17 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.
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