Solar Energy News

Solar Electric Light Fund Launches “Energy is a Human Right” Campaign

2012-02-01T10:21:00.001-08:00

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit working to eliminate energy poverty through the use of solar power, today announced that it is launching “Energy is a Human Right,” a campaign to provide a voice to the nearly 1.5 billion people around the world living without access to electricity and other forms of modern energy. It is also

SunRun and PV Solar Report Announce California’s Fastest-Growing Solar Cities and Availability of Year End Reports

2012-02-01T10:20:00.000-08:00

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SunRun, the nation’s leading home solar company, and PV Solar Report, an authority on California solar market data, today announced California’s fastest-growing solar cities. These cities added more home solar systems in 2011 than their counterparts throughout the state and show solar growth is expanding to new regions. The list complements the release of the Q4

Cree Releases Packaged 1700V SiC Schottky Diodes to Improve Efficiency and Enable Cost Savings to Solar, Motor Drive and Traction Applications

2012-02-01T10:17:00.001-08:00

DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE), a market leader in silicon carbide (SiC) power devices, has introduced a series of packaged diodes that deliver the industry’s highest blocking voltage available in SiC Schottky technology. Cree’s 1700V Z-Rec® Schottky diodes virtually eliminate the reverse recovery losses suffered in silicon PiN diode alternatives, enabling

Corning Reaches Milestone in Photovoltaic Glass Program With First Commercial Order

2012-02-01T10:16:00.001-08:00

CORNING, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) announced today its first commercial order for photovoltaic (PV) glass substrates. This milestone order follows three years of development work and extensive customer engagement, resulting in an engineered glass that enables higher efficiency and lighter weight thin-film photovoltaic modules. The PV glass substrates will ship

Real Goods Solar Continues to Spread Clean Energy, Launches Third Annual Free Home Solar Sweepstakes

2012-02-01T10:14:00.001-08:00

LOUISVILLE, Colo., Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Real Goods Solar reaffirmed its commitment to make solar power affordable and accessible, by giving homeowners the opportunity to win their own 4kW home solar electric system valued up to $25,000 in the 2012 Free Home Solar Sweepstakes. Qualifying homeowners can enter to win and see official rules at http://www.RealGoodsSolar.com/Sweepstakes or

Clean Power Finance Expands Residential Solar Financing Products to New Markets

2012-02-01T10:13:00.001-08:00

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Clean Power Finance, the online marketplace for residential solar financing and sales software, today announced the availability of its residential solar finance products in the states of Colorado, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Initially only available in California, the solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs) Clean Power Finance manages and markets are

Winery-Contractor Turned Solar Mogul

2012-02-01T10:11:00.001-08:00

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A new player in the solar game has arrived: his name is Al Hernandez of Al's Wine and he has a newly acquired penchant for solar. Al's wine cellar constructing was a successful business, but Al saw more. Being located in hot and sun-soaked Palm Desert, Al saw a perfect opportunity to try something that would change his and his community's destiny –

DuPont and Suntech Sign Strategic Agreement

2012-02-01T10:10:00.001-08:00

WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- DuPont and Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), the world's largest producer of solar panels, have signed a strategic agreement to help increase the supply of photovoltaic materials and technologies for the growing global market for solar energy. The agreement focuses on technology advancements, supply chain optimization cost reduction

MidAmerican Renewables, LLC Completes Acquisition of 550-MegawattAC Topaz Solar Farm from First Solar

2012-02-01T10:08:00.001-08:00

DES MOINES, Iowa and TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, MidAmerican Renewables, LLC, a subsidiary of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, announced it has completed its acquisition of the Topaz Solar Farm from First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR). The 550-megawatt photovoltaic power plant being built in San Luis Obispo County, Calif., will have the capacity to generate enough renewable energy to

SunPower Closes Acquisition of Tenesol SA

2012-02-01T10:05:00.001-08:00

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR), a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems today announced it has completed its acquisition of the wholly-owned Total SA subsidiary Tenesol SA, a global solar provider headquartered in La Tour de Salvagny, France for $165.4 million in cash. Concurrently with the

Arizona’s Buckeye Union High School District Dedicates 4.29-Megawatt Solar Generation Project from Constellation Energy

2012-02-01T10:04:00.001-08:00

BALTIMORE & BUCKEYE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) and the Buckeye Union High School District, today announced the completion of an aggregate 4.29-megawatt (DC) solar generation project. Baltimore-based Constellation Energy’s retail business owns and will maintain the solar power systems. In return, the school district will purchase and receive all of the electricity

NanoMarkets Forecasts Rapid Sales Growth for CIGS Solar Panels Through Rest of Decade

2012-01-31T10:04:00.000-08:00

GLEN ALLEN, Va., Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In its newly released report, "CIGS Photovoltaics Markets-2012," industry analyst firm NanoMarkets forecasts revenues from CIGS panels will reach $4.4 billion (USD) by 2017. And while the recent announcement of a 150 MW solar farm supports the notion that CIGS technology is finally ready for prime time, NanoMarkets says that CIGS manufacturers

TEP Selects AREVA Solar as Technology Partner for Innovative CSP Booster Project

2012-01-31T10:02:00.001-08:00

TUCSON, Ariz. and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is partnering with AREVA Solar on an innovative concentrated solar power (CSP) addition to TEP's H. Wilson Sundt Generating Station in Tucson. TEP's Sundt Solar Boost Project will use AREVA Solar's Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) solar steam generators to produce up to 5 megawatts (MW) of

Siemens HCPV Module Partner Semprius Achieves World Record for Photovoltaic Module Efficiency

2012-01-31T09:56:00.000-08:00

ERLANGEN, Germany, Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The solar company Semprius, in which Siemens has invested as a strategic partner in June 2011, achieved a world record for photovoltaic module efficiency of 33.9 percent. This result was externally certified after measurement under standard test conditions at the Instituto de Energia Solar (IES) at the University of Madrid (Universidad Politecnica

Harqua Gila, LLC Recognizes CRC's Alternative Energy Technology as Solution to Inherent Solar Power Plant Spikes

2012-01-31T09:54:00.001-08:00

PHOENIX, Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CRC (Pink Sheets: CYSA) receives a Letter of Interest from Harqua Gila, LLC for deployment of its Alternative Energy Technologies. Harqua Gila, LLC is currently developing a multi-phase alternative energy project in La Paz County, Arizona that encompasses two primary components – solar and hydro production/capture – and is designed to roll out in expanding

Novel Cell Designs for More Efficient Solar Cells

2012-01-31T09:52:00.001-08:00

HANAU, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Innovation and material technology are the keys to success for increasing the efficiency of solar cells. For the first time ever, scientists accomplished the development of an industry-scale c-Si solar cell with an efficiency greater than 20%. The record cell is based on the combination of two cell design technologies: MWT and PERC. In a joint research project

Dyesol Announces OTCQX Quotation in USA

2012-01-31T09:51:00.000-08:00

QUEANBEYAN, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In response to increased US investor enquiries and as part of a determined bid to diversify its shareholder base and increase liquidity, dye sensitized solar cell frontrunner, Dyesol Limited (ASX:DYE, FWB:D5I, OTCQX:DYSOY), has upgraded from the Over-the-Counter (OTC) Pink marketplace in the U.S.A. to the top tier of the OTC market – the OTCQX. This move

Semprius Sets World Record for Solar Module Efficiency

2012-01-31T09:49:00.001-08:00

DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Semprius, Inc., an innovator in high concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) solar modules, has set a new world record for photovoltaic module efficiency, reaching 33.9 percent (active area). The module was tested indoors at Standard Test Conditions (850 W/m2, 25°C cell temperature, and a spectrum matched to AM1.5D) by the Instituto de Energía Solar at the Universidad

Fluor to Design, Build, Operate and Maintain 125-Megawatt Solar Energy Facility in Arizona

2012-01-31T09:44:00.001-08:00

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that Arlington Valley Solar Energy II, LLC (AVSE II), a member of LS Power Group, has awarded the company a lump-sum engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract, as well as a separate contract for ongoing operations and maintenance services (O&M) for its new nominal 125-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV)

U.S. Department of Commerce Finds Massive Surge of Chinese Solar Imports, Triggering 90-Day Retroactivity If It Finds Duties Are Warranted

2012-01-31T09:27:00.001-08:00

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM), led by SolarWorld and supported by more than 150 U.S. employers of more than 11,000 workers, today recognized the U.S. Department of Commerce for taking expedited action against a massive, evasive surge of Chinese solar cell and panel imports ahead of Commerce’s first preliminary determination on duties, now

The Salton Sea May Prove Even More Valuable to HyperSolar

2012-01-30T13:19:00.001-08:00

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HyperSolar, Inc. (OTCBB: HYSR), the developer of a breakthrough technology to produce renewable hydrogen and natural gas using water and solar power, today announced that the numerous “mud pots” found in and around the Salton Sea emit mostly carbon dioxide (CO2). This harmful greenhouse gas can be captured and combined with hydrogen in the company’s

Solar-Powered Car, SolarWorld GT, Sets out on U.S. Leg of First Round-the-World Journey

2012-01-30T13:18:00.000-08:00

CAMARILLO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A solar-powered car sponsored by SolarWorld, the largest U.S. solar panel manufacturer for more than 35 years, this week begins the U.S. leg of its 21,000-mile quest to circle the globe, propelled only by sun’s rays. The SolarWorld Gran Turismo (GT), a collaboration between SolarWorld and Bochum University of Applied Sciences in Germany, is a two-seat sports

Solar Trade Barriers Threaten Over 60,000 American Jobs

2012-01-30T13:13:00.001-08:00

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--An economic analysis prepared by The Brattle Group and released today finds that a 100% tariff on imported solar PV cells and modules from China would result in as many as 50,000 net lost jobs in the U.S. over the next three years. Furthermore, retaliatory tariffs placed on U.S. exports of polysilicon to China would put nearly 11,000 more American jobs at risk in the

SunSi Poised to Benefit From Projected Increase in Chinese Solar Demand

2012-01-30T09:40:00.001-08:00

NEW YORK, Jan 30, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- SunSi Energies Inc. ("SunSi") (otcqb:SSIE), a provider of the specialty chemical trichlorosilane ("TCS") to polysilicon makers in the solar industry, today highlighted how it is positioned to be a beneficiary of the expected solar market rebound in 2012. SunSi's management's views are in lockstep with recent comments about the "solar market

Amtech Systems to Announce First Quarter Financial Results on February 9, 2012

2012-01-30T09:24:00.000-08:00

TEMPE, Ariz., Jan. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASYS), a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of solar cells, semiconductors, and sapphire and silicon wafers, today announced that it will host a conference call to discuss the Company's financial results for the first quarter ended December 31, 2011 on Thursday,