Solar Energy News

Munich Re Signs Photovoltaic Module Guarantee Cover for LDK Solar

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:44:00 +0000

XINYU CITY, China and SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LDK Solar Co., Ltd. ("LDK Solar") (NYSE: LDK) announced today that Munich Re's Special Enterprise Risk unit's new insurance solution will cover the performance warranty of its photovoltaic modules.

The insurance solution covers the performance warranty of LDK Solar modules for a period of 25 years. The warranty guarantees that the modules will perform to at least 90 percent capacity in the first ten years and to at least 80 percent in the remaining 15 years.

The cover offers LDK Solar a greater degree of business certainty and thus constitutes a powerful differentiator in a competitive marketplace. Ultimately it gives operators of solar parks additional economic security in the event of an unforeseen loss in performance of the modules. This new insurance solution is a major stepping-stone in financing photovoltaic projects as it provides additional financial security.

Thomas Blunck, Member of the Board of Management at Munich Re: "We are happy that we acquired LDK Solar as a new client. It shows that our innovative photovoltaic module guarantee cover is beginning to establish a standard in the industry. Investors and lenders will welcome this development."

"We are pleased to become a client of Munich Re and view this insurance solution as a positive development for the PV industry as it provides additional fiscal security in guaranteeing the long-term performance of solar modules," stated Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO of LDK Solar.

The insurance cover developed by Munich Re's unit Special Enterprise Risk will be implemented for Munich Re by one of the group's primary insurers.

Ventura County Turns Vision for Solar Energy into Action with Dedication of Two New Systems

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:31:00 +0000

ROSEVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The County of Ventura, Solar Power, Inc. (“SPI”) (OTCBB: SOPW), and Solar Power Partners (“SPP”) held a dedication ceremony on March 10, 2010 at Ventura County’s Saticoy Operations Yard celebrating the completion of the installation of photovoltaic (“PV”) solar systems on two of the County’s buildings. The two systems, a 334.56 kW DC system on the Fleet Services and Public Works buildings at the Saticoy Operations Yard, and a 157.44 kW DC system on the County’s Vanguard building, have begun to provide power to the County’s operations at each location. Combined, the 492 kilowatts DC will generate an estimated 728,000 kilowatt hours of electricity during the first year of production. The system will also provide the County with a hedge against rising electricity rates for years to come. In addition, the systems will also provide the County with significant environmental benefit, producing an environmental offset that is the equivalent of removing 523 pounds (242.27 metric tons) of CO2 from the environment during their first year of operation.

Officials within Ventura County have been working to make solar energy a reality at the County’s facilities since January 2008. In 2009, they turned to Solar Power, Inc. a leading manufacturer and developer of residential, commercial and utility-scale systems to help turn their vision into action. Solar Power, Inc. partnered with Solar Power Partners to finance the systems. SPP will own and operate the systems, while selling the solar-generated electricity back to the County. Jointly, the project is financed by SPP, US Bank and another financial institution through an LLC. It is under a solar Power Purchase Agreement that electricity will be sold, requiring no up-front capital outlay from the County for the systems.

The project’s completion serves as a strong starting point for the County’s entry into sustainable alternative energy solutions and is an example of its enduring commitment to fiscal and social responsibility. “We are very happy to have completed installation of this project. We now have two state-of-the-art systems ready to produce clean, renewable solar electricity for us,” said Steve Morgan, Chief Deputy Director GSA for Ventura County. “The ultimate beneficiaries of this project will be the taxpayers across our County through the cost savings and environmental offsets these systems will generate.”

The two systems are a combination of conventional roof-mounted solar and Solar Power, Inc.’s proprietary SkyMount® system. SkyMount® enabled minimal roof penetrations, reduced installation time during the project, and will optimize the system’s solar module performance. The installations utilize 2,448 of SPI’s 205-watt modules, ranked with the California Energy Commission as the industry’s top performing solar modules in their category.

“We have enjoyed working with the entire team at the County of Ventura during the course of this project. It will be especially rewarding to see the systems we’ve produced help the County achieve their cost saving goals,” said Bradley Ferrell, President of Business Development for Solar Power, Inc. “We hope to work with the County of Ventura team again as they continue their migration to solar energy and expand their sustainability initiative across other areas of the County’s operations,” Mr. Ferrell concluded.

“We’re delighted to continue helping counties like Ventura realize the benefits of solar in a cost-effective, streamlined way,” said Bob Powell, President and CEO of Solar Power Partners. “We were especially pleased to lend our project financing and system operations experience to this partnership, and demonstrate the benefits of solar energy to local ratepayers through a smart financing and ownership model.”

The project’s completion serves as a strong starting point for the County’s entry into sustainable alternative energy solutions and is an example of its enduring commitment to fiscal and social responsibility.

Applied Materials Expands Display, Solar Equipment Manufacturing Capability in Taiwan

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:27:00 +0000

TAINAN, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Applied Materials, Inc., the world’s largest supplier of equipment to the semiconductor, flat panel display (FPD) and solar photovoltaic (PV) industries, today announced the opening of its newly expanded Tainan Manufacturing Center in Tainan, Taiwan. The nearly 15,000 square meter facility will enhance Applied’s capability to serve its FPD and thin film solar PV customers in Asia while capitalizing on Taiwan’s excellent location, strong talent pool and supply chain efficiencies.

“The Tainan Manufacturing Center is one of our biggest investments in Asia and puts Taiwan at the center of our display and solar equipment technology efforts,” said Mike Splinter, chairman and CEO of Applied Materials. “Applied has a 20-year history of success in Taiwan and with this expanded center, we are setting a strong foundation for even greater success in the next 20 years. I would like to thank our customers, employees and the Taiwan government who helped make this state-of-the-art manufacturing facility possible.”

The Tainan Manufacturing Center employs approximately 150 people and is expected to build and ship about 100 new PECVD* and PVD* systems this year – a 400% increase in shipments from last year. The Center’s Tainan location and extensive supply chain in Asia will enable Applied to more rapidly meet the demands of its large base of display and solar customers in Asia.

Applied Materials has a major presence in Taiwan with more than 800 employees in 10 offices across the country. A leading market for semiconductor and FPD manufacturing, Taiwan is also becoming an increasingly active region for solar energy. In 2009, Taiwan passed renewable energy legislation aimed at promoting the use of renewable energy and boosting energy diversification. Applied has donated R&D systems for thin film solar energy research to some of Taiwan’s leading universities and supports education efforts through its Applied Young Talent program.

Taiwanese Premier D.Y. Wu, Dr. L.C. Lee, minister of Taiwan’s National Science Council, Tainan County Mayor H.J. Su and S.C. Lin, vice minister of Taiwan Economic Affairs, attended the festivities and recognized the contributions Applied has made to the country after 20 years of doing business in Taiwan.

“I am pleased that Applied Materials, a globally recognized company, is continuing to invest in Tainan and we will provide our full support to making the Center a great success,” said Premier D.Y. Wu. “This is an exciting time for Taiwan’s technology industry as solar energy and flat panel displays emerge as major opportunities for our economic development in the 21st century. We celebrate Applied’s successful history in Taiwan and the extraordinary achievements made through the collaboration and commitment of our people.”

SunEdison to Build Europe’s Largest Solar Power Plant in Rovigo, Italy

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:09:00 +0000

ROVIGO, Italy--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SunEdison, a division of MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (NYSE: WFR), received final approval from the Italian government to develop and construct a 72 Megawatt (MW) photovoltaic solar power plant in Northeastern Italy, near the town of Rovigo. When completed, this is expected to be the largest photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant in Europe.

Power generation will begin in the second half of 2010 with final completion expected by year end. In the first full year of operation, the system will generate sufficient energy to power 17,150 homes and avoid 41,000 tons of CO2 – the equivalent of removing 8,000 cars from the road.

SunEdison will jointly develop the project with financing partner Banco Santander. Additional financial partners are expected to join the project for final ownership.

“SunEdison is focused on enabling the growth of global solar markets through strong capabilities in project finance, engineering, low-cost procurement and operations and maintenance services,” commented Carlos Domenech, President of SunEdison.

“Veneto is taking decisive action to advance the use of clean, renewable energy sources,” said Renzo Marangon, government official of the Veneto region. “At the same time, this project is expected to create over 350 local construction jobs and build expertise in advanced energy technologies. We expect Rovigo to serve as a European model for large-scale, alternative-energy projects.”

“A critical element of our approach is working closely with the right partners,” added Pancho Perez, General Manager for Europe and MENA region at SunEdison, “including developers, suppliers and contractors. For the Rovigo project, we selected Isolux Corsán, a large-scale infrastructure construction company with a strong track record in utility-scale solar plants.”

“We are pleased to be selected by SunEdison to construct the largest PV solar plant in Europe. We are looking forward to extending this partnership beyond Italy,” said Luis Delso, President of Isolux Corsán.

At 72 megawatts, this solar-power plant will be the largest in Europe. Currently, the largest facility is a 60MW solar farm in Olmedilla, Spain, followed by a 50 MW in Strasskirchen, Germany, built by MEMC through a joint venture agreement.

Suniva Named “Renewable Energy Exporter of the Year” by Export-Import Bank of the United States

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:09:00 +0000

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Suniva, Inc., a U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells and modules, today announced that it has been named “Renewable Energy Exporter of the Year” by the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The award was presented today at the EX-IM Bank Annual Conference prior to Suniva CEO John Baumstark’s introduction of President Barack Obama to attendees.

Last year, Suniva exported more than 90 percent of its product to Asia and Europe. The company has created more than 150 new jobs and plans to hire 500 additional staff at a new manufacturing plant in Michigan. Suniva employs a diverse workforce—approximately a quarter of employees are military veterans and many others were hired from shuttered automotive plants.

“As America’s only manufacturer of high-efficiency, monocrystalline solar cells, Suniva is proud to be doing its part to help make President Obama’s vision of doubling exports over the next five years a reality,” said John Baumstark, chairman and chief executive officer of Suniva. “The Suniva team is working hard to protect the environment and create new jobs for the next generation of Americans.”

Suniva was also featured in several prestigious venture capital backed company lists during the past week. The company ranked as The Wall Street Journal’s 2nd most promising Venture-Backed Clean Technology Company and the 15th overall Venture-Backed Company across all industries. Greentech Media also included Suniva in its list of the Top 50 VC-Funded Greentech Startups.

With its expanding and skilled workforce, Suniva is producing world-class technology and generating record setting screen printed solar cell efficiencies in development and production. For more information about Suniva and its products, please visit www.suniva.com.

Chevron Energy Solutions to Build 3.7MW Solar Project for East Side Union High School District

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:59:00 +0000

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chevron Energy Solutions, a unit of Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX), and East Side Union High School District in San José, California, today announced the start of construction on a 3.7-megawatt solar project that is expected to provide more than $1.5 million in budget relief to the district’s general fund in the first year and $7.6 million over five years. It is anticipated that the project will reduce the district’s electric utility costs by 30 percent and deliver $36 million in savings over the life of the project.

“Our schools will all benefit from these savings, especially in these tough economic times when they’re needed most,” said East Side Union High School District Interim Superintendent Dan Moser. “Also, this project reduces our carbon footprint and allows us to incorporate solar into our teaching curriculum so our teachers and students can learn about renewable energy technologies firsthand.”

The solar panels at six school sites will generate enough power to light more than 250,000 average-sized compact fluorescent light bulbs. The district will also reduce its purchase of utility power through this project, which is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 3,100 metric tons per year, equivalent to planting more than 980 acres of trees. Through professional development workshops, the district’s teachers will learn how they can use hands-on solar kits and activity guides in the classroom to teach students about solar energy.

Chevron Energy Solutions will design, build, operate, maintain, measure and guarantee the solar energy system’s performance for the district. The project will also help stimulate the local Silicon Valley economy by hiring more than 100 local union contractors. Chevron Energy Solutions is the nation’s largest installer of solar energy for education institutions and has developed hundreds of projects involving energy efficiency and renewable power for education, government and business customers in the United States since 2000.

“We are pleased to help East Side Union High School District celebrate its 60th anniversary by creating savings and learning opportunities through solar energy,” said Jim Davis, president of Chevron Energy Solutions. “This project is a prime example of how education institutions can use solar projects to provide budget relief and teach the next generation about clean technologies.”

The groundbreaking for this project is being celebrated today at Santa Teresa High School in San José, at an event attended by students and district, government and business officials. The project is expected to be completed later this year.

Chevron is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies, with subsidiaries that conduct business worldwide. The company’s success is driven by the ingenuity and commitment of its employees and their application of the most innovative technologies in the world. Chevron is involved in virtually every facet of the energy industry. The company explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and other energy products; manufactures and sells petrochemical products; generates power and produces geothermal energy; provides energy efficiency solutions; and develops the energy resources of the future, including biofuels. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.

Solar Power, Inc. to Present at Roth Capital Partners OC Growth Stock Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:54:00 +0000

ROSEVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Power, Inc. (“SPI”) (OTCBB: SOPW) a leading designer, manufacturer and installer of photovoltaic solar power systems worldwide, today announced that Steve Kircher, Chairman and CEO, Jeff Winzeler, CFO will be presenting at the Roth Capital Partners 22nd Annual OC Growth Stock Conference on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 5:00 P.M. Pacific time (8:00 p.m. Eastern time). The conference is being held at the Ritz Carlton in Dana Point, California.

The presentation will provide insight into the Company’s new positioning strategy as well as offer a discussion of pipeline opportunities and milestones for 2010 which are aimed at strengthening the Company’s U.S. operations and its position to capitalize on growing opportunities for solar energy across the country. A copy of the presentation will be available at www.solarpowerinc.net after the conference has concluded and will be archived for 90 days.

About Solar Power, Inc.:

Founded in 2005, Solar Power, Inc. is a vertically integrated solar developer; the Company manages its supply chain from material sourcing through post-installation asset management of its systems and manufacturers its own line of world-class solar modules and balance-of-system products. The company designs, manufactures and delivers world-class photovoltaic solar systems to its residential, business, government and utility customers. For additional information visit: www.solarpowerinc.net .

Sunovia Energy Technologies Partners With Fifth Third Bank

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:39:00 +0000

SARASOTA, Fla., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sunovia Energy Technologies (OTC Bulletin Board: SUNV) and Fifth Third Bank announced today that they have finalized a partnership whereby eligible customers can now finance the costs of purchasing and installing Sunovia's LED products.

By installing Sunovia's LED Light Fixtures, which are sold under the brand name EvoLucia®, customers generally save more than 50% in energy and more than $500 in bulb replacement and maintenance costs during the life of the new EvoLucia LED fixture. The savings that the customer enjoys from converting to the new EvoLucia LED fixture more than covers the entire costs of the financing. All Fifth Third Bank loans are subject to credit review and approval.

Sunovia believes that the new financing program resolves the final sticking point (up-front costs) for customers who are contemplating switching to its EvoLucia line of LED lighting. The EvoLucia LED lights already increase visibility, save energy, reduce carbon emissions, last 5x longer, and provide a more evenly distributed cool white light than existing street lights; and now, there is no additional costs to customers who step into the future of lighting.

The specialized program provides financing packages of up to five years with no money down at prevailing market interest rates. A client will have the option to pay monthly, quarterly or annually to amortize their investment in a period of five years. At the end of the lease term, the client will own the lights outright with no additional lease buyout required. Typically, the reduced maintenance costs and energy savings more than cover the monthly lease payment, and all savings accumulated after the financing period go to the customer's bottom line (for governmental installations, these are savings to taxpayers).

On average, the maintenance and energy savings enjoyed by customers who convert to EvoLucia LED light fixtures results in a payback period between 2 and 4 years. This means that the customers break even during year 2 to year 4, and all savings thereafter go to the bottom line.

"Our products dramatically reduce energy and maintenance costs. The primary complaint that we have received from potential customers has been the up-front cost associated with switching to LED lighting; and our new partnership with Fifth Third Bank eliminates those expenses. We have now slanted the ball field in our favor in all aspects of street lighting," said Jim Perkins, Sunovia Energy's VP of Sales and Finance. "The benefits of our Aimed Optics™ technology, when combined with these flexible terms, makes EvoLucia LED lighting an overwhelming solution for the global market."

TVA Incentives Fuel Homegrown Power, Generation Partners Tops 1 Megawatt

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:37:00 +0000

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., March 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With solar panels and wind turbines popping up across the region, the Tennessee Valley Authority's homegrown renewable energy program, Generation Partners, now has enough power to meet the annual electricity needs of a fairly large subdivision.

Fueled by TVA incentives and federal tax credits, participation in Generation Partners http://www.tva.gov/greenpowerswitch/partners/ has tripled since last spring from 69 to 194 installations -- 181 are solar and 13 are wind.

The combined generating capacity of the Generation Partners portfolio has grown from 454 kilowatts to more than 1.49 megawatts. While the wind doesn't always blow and the sun doesn't always shine, the combined energy from today's Generation Partners installations is expected to make enough electricity over a year to equal the annual consumption of more than 120 average Tennessee Valley households.

"Surpassing 1 megawatt is a milestone for this program," said Susan Curtis, TVA senior manager of Generation Partners. "It shows a growing desire of many residents to take a personal stake in clean renewable energy for our region. TVA and its distributors want to help."

Though a small contributor to TVA's 33,000-megawatt system, the power from Generation Partners, a pilot program launched in 2003, comes with clean-air savings. The 547,877 kilowatt-hours Generation Partners produced in fiscal 2009 represents 497 metric tons in avoided carbon dioxide emissions from fossil power plants.

USFloors Inc. of Dalton, Ga., recently became Generation Partners' largest participant with the installation of a 144-kilowatt system. It has 672 solar photovoltaic panels covering 14,500 square feet on a warehouse rooftop that can be seen from Interstate 75. Already, the sustainable flooring company is planning to modify a second existing solar array of 31.5 kilowatts to more than 300 kilowatts.

"There is no question that both TVA and North Georgia Electric Membership Corp. have been crucial elements in making this come to fruition," USFloors President Piet Dossche said. "Without them this would have been less attractive."

Generation Partners offers homeowners and businesses financial incentives for qualifying solar, wind, biomass and small hydroelectric systems of less than 1 megawatt. TVA pays each new participant $1,000 to offset startup costs and agrees to buy 100 percent of the green power they produce. TVA will pay the retail rate, plus any fuel cost adjustment, plus a 12-cent premium per kilowatt-hour for solar and 3 cents per kilowatt-hour for wind, biomass and hydro.

"Many of the homeowners and businesses we serve support renewable energy technologies and want to invest in renewable energy systems, which is encouraged through this program," said Steve Ward, energy services coordinator at North Georgia Electric Membership Corp., based in Dalton.

Federal renewable tax credits and the expanded Generation Partners pilot program are driving consumer interest in renewables, he said, noting North Georgia Electric Membership Corp. has two businesses and three homes now participating in Generation Partners and applications from four more.

"Based on the participation in the program we have had so far and the many inquiries about it, we do expect to see more renewable energy systems installed in 2010," Ward said.

"The incentives make the project viable," said Richard Grogan, president of Total Quality Instrumentation Inc., a renewable energy sales and installation company in Cookeville, Tenn., whose 44-kilowatt solar array pushed Generation Partners past 1 megawatt in capacity.

Total Quality's system includes 220 solar panels atop the company's 10,000 square-foot building and a 34-foot-tall wind turbine. Grogan said he was delighted with his first monthly bill from his TVA distributor, Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corp. It showed that renewables not only generated enough electricity to meet his company's needs for the month, but also a $40 credit.

"We just started in environmental installations late last year," Grogan said. "We have done four windmills and two solar systems. We have many systems in the works waiting on grants. Upon approval, our next install will be a 44-kilowatt system in Nashville on an airport hangar."

"We are going like gangbusters," said Jim Purcell, program manager at Nashville Electric Service. NES has 23 homes and 21 commercial buildings either in the process of installing solar panels for Generation Partners or already plugged in, including two public housing projects with 65-kilowatt solar arrays.

"I am fairly confident that the incentives that are out there from TVA are making these green companies work for us," Purcell said, noting a growing number of Nashville-area installers. "Based on what I am seeing, the early returns are excellent."

Soliant Energy Adds Veteran Marketer, Ben Jamison, to Executive Team

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:51:00 +0000

MONROVIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Soliant Energy™, the leader in concentrated solar energy systems for commercial rooftops, today announced that Ben Jamison has joined the company as vice president of marketing, reporting to Terry Bailey, chairman and CEO. Jamison, a seasoned marketing executive with over 30 years of experience with leading companies in dynamic and growth markets, will take on responsibility for all marketing related activities at Soliant, including product management and field applications.

“As we move through our pilot stage and begin to aggressively build out our customer base, marketing takes on a front and center role at Soliant,” said Bailey. “Ben’s track record speaks for itself; his demonstrated ability to think strategically coupled with his results-oriented program creation and execution is a great fit for our needs.”

“Soliant presents one of those rare combinations of right company with the right product at just the right time,” said Jamison. “I’m thrilled with this opportunity to join Terry and the team and to help Soliant reach its full potential as a leading provider of high-efficiency, concentrated solar for commercial rooftops around the world.”

Jamison is a senior marketing and sales executive, who, over the past 30 years, has built an extensive record of success with a variety of companies in various stages of growth. Jamison is adept at identifying and developing successful marketing and product strategies in new and emerging technical markets that require deep understanding of specific technologies and business drivers.

Most recently Jamison was vice president of sales at Savant Systems, LLC, a leading provider of advanced consumer electronics systems for residential and commercial customers. In this role, Jamison spearheaded efforts to build co-marketing agreements with over 35 top manufacturers, and established an international dealer/distributor network of over 300 participants, increasing revenue by more than 250% in 2009.

Prior to Savant, Jamison was vice president of sales and marketing for Visionware, Inc., of Austin, Texas, where he successfully led the company to leadership within the consumer electronics industry with a series of high-profile new product initiatives.

Jamison held additional senior marketing and sales roles at Runco International, Inc., Solus Micro Technologies and NEC Technologies.

GT Solar International, Inc. Announces Pricing of Secondary Offering of 25 Million Shares of Common Stock by a Selling Stockholder

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:46:00 +0000

MERRIMACK, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On March 9, 2010, GT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLR), priced the secondary offering of 25 million shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $4.85 per share. All of the shares are being sold by one selling stockholder, GT Solar Holdings, LLC. The selling stockholder has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 3.75 million shares of common stock at the secondary offering price to cover over-allotments, if any.

UBS Securities LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC are the joint bookrunning managers for the offering, Thomas Weisel Partners LLC is the lead manager and Pacific Crest Securities LLC and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. are the co-managers.

A copy of the prospectus supplement and base prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained by contacting: UBS Securities LLC, 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York, 10171, Attn: Prospectus Department (, ext. 3884) or Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York, 10010-3629 (800-221-1037).

A shelf registration statement relating to the offering was filed and declared effective on November 13, 2009 by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Southern California Edison Orders 200 Megawatts of SunPower Panels for Large Utility Solar Project

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:43:00 +0000

ROSEMEAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Southern California Edison (SCE), an Edison International company (NYSE:EIX), and SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB) announced today that SunPower has won a contract to provide solar technology for generating up to 200 megawatts, or 80 percent, of the solar power capacity needed for the utility’s large solar photovoltaic installation program.

During the next five years, SCE plans to install, own and operate 250 megawatts of solar generating capacity, most of it on otherwise unused large warehouse rooftops. The large one- to two-million-watt solar installations will be connected directly to neighborhood distribution circuits where the leased rooftops are located.

“The anticipated benefits of this agreement with SunPower include panel costs that will allow us to meet our commitment to increasing our customers’ supply of renewable energy while reducing the cost of installed solar photovoltaic power in California,” said SCE President John R. Fielder.

SCE is purchasing the SunPower T5 Solar Roof Tile product, which integrates into a single unit a solar panel, frame and roof mounting system, thereby reducing installation time and costs. In addition, the SunPower product was selected because it will allow SCE to produce more power per installation.

“The SCE program reflects the growing value of advanced solar panel technology as a reliable, cost-effective energy resource that can be installed quickly, anywhere and at any scale,” said Howard Wenger, president of SunPower’s utilities and power plant business group. “SunPower applauds SCE’s commitment to rooftop solar development, which is unprecedented in the utility industry.”

In a related development, on January 21, 2010, the California Public Utilities Commission approved the process to be used for a second track of solar installations that will double the size of SCE’s photovoltaic program. Regulators previously directed SCE to conduct a competitive solicitation offering long-term power contracts to independent solar power providers willing to install an additional 250 megawatts of photovoltaic generation. SCE hopes to launch the solicitation later this month. Eventually, the two installation tracks will add a total of 500 megawatts to the solar generating capacity of Southern California’s power resources – the largest U.S. photovoltaic program ever undertaken.

SCE Solar Project Benefits

New generation sources will be installed in areas where customer demand is rising.
The installations will speed up California’s deployment of solar generation while major new renewable energy transmission lines are being built such as SCE’s 4,500 megawatt Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project.
SCE grid engineers will be studying the electrical effects of a high penetration of photovoltaics on distribution circuits and adapting circuits to accommodate these large installations. The information gained will be shared with the power industry.
SCE anticipates its solar power project will create as many as 800 new green jobs in Southern California in the solar industry. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, one of SCE’s project partners, is supporting the project through the expansion of its solar installation apprentice training program.

Evergreen Solar Promotes Peter Rusch to Vice President of Sales for Europe, Africa and the Middle East

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:17:00 +0000

MARLBORO, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Evergreen Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESLR), a manufacturer of STRING RIBBON™ solar power panels with its proprietary, low-cost wafer manufacturing technology, announced today the promotion of Peter Rusch to Vice President of Sales for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It also announced that Thomas Hofmann has been promoted to the Director of Sales for Europe.

In this newly-created position, Rusch will oversee market development, sales strategy and implementation in the three key regions of Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Rusch previously held the position of Director of Sales in Europe. An 11-year veteran of the solar industry, Rusch joined Evergreen Solar in 2002. He previously worked as an export manager at Solon AG before becoming an executive at Solarbiss Energietechnik GmbH. Rusch is a graduate of Bayreuth University and received his master’s degree from Ashcroft International Business Center in Cambridge, UK.

“Peter Rusch has helped Evergreen Solar significantly grow its presence and market share in Germany and southern Europe since joining the company,” said Richard M. Feldt, Chairman, CEO and President. “The European region represents the majority of our overall sales. Under Peter’s leadership, we are well positioned to take Evergreen Solar to the next level in the European market and beyond.”

“During the coming year we will continue to expand our sales efforts within continental Europe while also entering both the Middle East and Africa,” said Scott Gish, Vice President Sales and Marketing. “Peter’s experience within the solar industry and these specific markets makes him the ideal person to drive Evergreen Solar’s growth in these key regions.”

Rusch will be replaced by Hofmann as the Director of Sales for Europe. He will be tasked with continuing to expand Evergreen Solar’s sales footprint in key European countries including Germany, Italy, France and Spain. He began his career in the solar industry in 2003 with Shell Solar and joined Evergreen Solar in 2007 and most recently served as the Senior Key Account Manager for Germany.

EVSO: New Report Outlines Bold Vision for Solar in the US

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:12:00 +0000

THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Management of Evolution Solar Corp. (PinkSheets: EVSO) stated that they were very pleased with a new report from Environment America that outlines a vision for using the sun to meet 10 percent of the United States’ energy needs by 2030. Senator Bernie Sanders (VT) and three solar business executives have joined with Environment America to create a new awareness of the report’s vision for the future of solar energy in the US.

“At a time when we spend $350 billion importing oil from Saudi Arabia and other countries every year, the United States must move away from foreign oil to energy independence,” Senator Sanders said. “A dramatic expansion of solar power is a clean and economical way to help break our dependence on foreign oil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, improve our geopolitical position, and create good-paying green jobs.”

“Building a Solar Future: Repowering America’s Homes, Businesses and Industry with Solar Energy” examines a wide variety of solar technologies and tools, including photovoltaics, concentrating solar power, solar water heaters, solar space heating, and passive solar design. The report makes the case that there are many ways to take advantage of the sun’s energy. Solar energy can be converted to electricity, or used for lighting, heating and cooling. It can replace the fossil fuels we burn at electric power plants, in factories, in our homes, and even in our cars.

The report finds that getting 10 percent of our energy from solar energy within two decades is equivalent to the energy that the U.S. currently produces at nuclear power plants, more than half the energy currently consumed in American cars and light trucks, or nearly half as much energy as we currently obtain from burning coal. Solar energy can play a major role in weaning the nation from dangerous, polluting, unstable and, in many cases, increasingly expensive forms of energy.

Environment America called on local, state and federal governments to commit to expanding solar energy. This can be accomplished by adopting strong policies to make solar energy an important part of America’s energy future. Environment America recommends: investing in solar technologies, research and development; requiring that utilities get more of their electricity from renewable resources like solar; requiring that buildings codes move towards all new buildings using zero net-energy; educating the public and training an effective workforce.

Evolution Solar is currently building a solar demonstration site in partnership with Texas Southern University, to be placed at the university’s Houston campus. This project should help Evolution Solar acquire new projects in an industry that includes Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL), LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK), Sun Power (NASDQAQ: SPWRA) and First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR).

First Solar Signs Contract with PG&E for 300 MW Photovoltaic Solar Power Project

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:00:00 +0000

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today announced a power purchase agreement to supply Pacific Gas and Electric Company with renewable electricity from a 300 megawatt (AC) utility-scale photovoltaic solar power facility that First Solar is developing in Southern California.

The Desert Sunlight project, to be located near Desert Center in eastern Riverside County, Calif., will have a total capacity of 550 megawatts, enough to power approximately 160,000 area homes – or about 480,000 residents. The other 250 MW portion of the project is already under contract to Southern California Edison. First Solar’s power purchase agreements with PG&E and SCE are subject to the approval of the California Public Utilities Commission.

First Solar will build the Desert Sunlight project using its industry leading thin-film photovoltaic solar modules and providing its project development, engineering, procurement and construction capabilities. With construction expected to start by the end of 2010 and completion as early as 2013, the project will displace 300,000 metric tons of CO2 per year, the equivalent of taking 60,000 cars off the road. It will also create approximately 430 construction jobs. The project’s permit application has been fast tracked by the Bureau of Land Management.

“First Solar is one of the few companies that has all the capabilities required to realize very large, utility-scale solar projects like Desert Sunlight, which are important in helping our customers and California reach the state’s renewable energy goals,” said Rob Gillette, First Solar chief executive officer.

First Solar has 1,700 megawatts of utility-scale power projects with power purchase agreements in North America.

Satcon to Supply 18 Megawatts of PowerGate® Plus PV Inverters Across 40 Power Plants Under Ontario Feed-In Tariff Program

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:59:00 +0000

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Satcon Technology Corporation (NASDAQ CM: SATC), a leading provider of utility scale power solutions for the renewable energy market, today announced that it will deliver 78 of its industry leading PowerGate® Plus solar PV inverters to OZZ Solar Inc. The power conversion solutions will be deployed on commercial rooftop projects across the province of Ontario, and will be fully compliant under the Ontario Feed-In Tariff (FIT) program launched in 2009.

The 40 rooftop projects under development by the OZZ Solar Inc. program will utilize Satcon’s PowerGate Plus 250kW and 100kW solar PV inverters, customized for 600 VAC, which became generally available in January of 2010. As the world’s leader in grid connected commercial and utility scale solar PV solutions, Satcon’s technology provides the industry leading Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), critical to attaining the most profitable power production under the recent FIT program.

“These installations mark the beginning of major growth for large scale, grid-tied rooftop solar power plants in Canada and are a significant step in the implementation of Ontario’s Feed-In Tariff program,” said Jonathan Goldman, Executive Vice President of OZZ Solar Inc. “These projects required the most advanced, highest performing, and most reliable systems that could deliver reliable performance in the harsh Ontario climate. Satcon’s best-in-class solutions and their commitment to partner with us to drive value from the design stages over the entire lifespan of the project were the key factors in our decision to partner with them.”

The PowerGate Plus 250kW and 100kW 600 VAC output inverters meet all requirements mandated under FIT regulations, and are specially designed to operate at full performance at temperatures as low as negative 40 degrees Celsius/negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, the PowerGate Plus solutions will be manufactured in Burlington, Ontario, making them the only large scale inverter solutions that are 100% compliant with the Ontario FIT local content requirements.

“With these first set of projects, OZZ Solar is stepping to the forefront of commercial solar development in Ontario,” said Pete DeGraff, Satcon’s Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing. “With a long history of manufacturing world-class products in Ontario, Satcon is a proud partner in OZZ Solar’s commercial solar projects, and a highly committed local developer to the Ontario government’s commitment to clean energy production.”

AEG Power Solutions Acquires a Majority Stake in skytron energy

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:14:00 +0000

ZWANENBURG, the Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

AEG Power Solutions, a global player in industrial power electronics, strengthens its position as a solutions provider for megawatt utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) power plants with the purchase of a majority stake in skytron energy. Founded in 1996, Berlin-based skytron provides leading-edge metering, monitoring and supervision solutions to companies in engineering, procurement and construction (EPCs), as well as to independent power producers (IPPs). The technological leader in its field, skytron has been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards, including the highly coveted Intersolar Award. The amount of the transaction, which was paid in cash, is not being disclosed.

Commenting on the acquisition, Bruce Brock, Chief Executive Officer of AEG Power Solutions, said: “Combining skytron’s monitoring and supervision products with our power electronics and experienced global services network will allow us to offer PV power plant operators highly reliable technology and expertise for the integration, implementation, and operation of rugged solutions for greater system availability and higher energy yields.”

“This is the partnership we were looking for,” commented Martin Sauter, Chief Executive Officer of skytron energy. “We needed a strong industrial partner to support our growth and give us access to the global market. The alliance will enhance our access to funds to improve our leading-edge technology while allowing us to provide our customers with strong service in all the emerging PV markets.”

Skytron will be a strategic business area within AEG Power Solutions, and continue to act as an independent monitoring solutions provider. AEG PS will invest in skytron’s technology to deliver leading-edge solutions for current markets and customers, as well as address AEG PS’s many industrial vertical markets and the powering of the Smart Grid.

AWSL's Atlantic Solar Inc. Receives Letters of Intent From Green Energy Funds to Negotiate Major Financing Agreements

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:51:00 +0000

TORONTO--(Marketwire - March 8, 2010) - Atlantic Wind and Solar Inc. (PINKSHEETS: AWSL) is pleased to report that negotiations with several Green Energy funding companies are advancing toward finalizing a financing that would fund AWSL's current activities, including numerous JV Ontario rooftop solar projects, production ramp up of the Company's outstanding Inverters/Converters, continued aggressive marketing across Ontario, and potential entry into new markets where the Company's systems would enjoy similar competitive advantages as those being realized here in Ontario.

Satisfactory Financing Agreement Anticipated
Pertaining to its ongoing negotiations to complete the largest financing in AWSL's history, the Company has received Letters Of Intent from two of Ontario's leading Green Energy funding companies to negotiate a proposed $120 million+ financing. Both funding companies are strong participants in the emerging solar energy boom in Ontario. As well, AWSL is involved in advanced negotiations regarding a $75 million debt financing from a multinational energy company that is aggressively expanding its participation in the Renewable Energy sector. While these proposed financings are in the negotiation stages and there is no agreement on final terms as yet, AWSL management is optimistic that one or more significant financings will be completed in the weeks ahead.

AWSL ... Poised for Growth
The acceleration of orders, financing, and other developments in the last few months augurs well for Atlantic Wind and Solar's business and overall growth in 2010. The Company intends to further expand in 2010 through strategically targeted acquisitions. AWSL is in advanced discussions regarding a new global distribution network focused on both the American and European markets. Atlantic Wind and Solar Inc. is also involved in discussions regarding additional technologies and prospective agreements aimed at broadening the Company's exposure to growth in the multibillion dollar Renewable Energy industry, both at home and abroad.

Sales and Marketing Contacts
Property owners and managers with unobstructed commercial rooftops of 30,000 s/f or bigger in the Province of Ontario, Canada, and for which they are interested in possibly leasing to AWSL, are invited to contact Mr. Charles Mazzacato ext. 230. All other Renewable Energy system enquiries are asked to contact Mr. Gilles Trahan +1 800 891 1657 ext. 221.

Enovos Luxembourg SA and Avelar Energy Ltd. to Form Joint Venture in Photovoltaics

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:45:00 +0000

LUXEMBOURG, March 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- On 3 March 2010, Enovos Luxembourg SA and Avelar Energy Ltd. (based in Zurich), signed a contract to form a joint venture under the name 'Aveleos S.A.'. The objective of this new company, which is headquartered in Luxembourg, is to develop, operate and bring to the market photovoltaic plants in Italy and France with a total capacity of up to 95 MW.

Enovos Luxembourg SA is a 59% shareholder in the new company with an investment of EUR 36 million. Avelar is investing EUR 25 million, giving it a 41% stake. Aveleos SA makes use of attractive feed-in tariffs and high sun intensity in Italy and France. With this investment, Enovos Luxembourg underlines its commitment to the field of renewable energies. 'The joint venture with Avelar Energy is a strategic partnership that allows us to build on our experience in the field of photovoltaics,' says CEO of Enovos Luxembourg, Jean Lucius. 'We're also delighted that the headquarters of the new company will be in Luxembourg.' Enovos commissioned a photovoltaic park with an output of 6 MW near Trier in November last year.

Besides the majority stake in Aveleos, Enovos Luxembourg will acquire 11 photovoltaic parks with an energy output of 1 MW each from Avelar Energy. The plants, which are all located in the region of Apulia, Italy, will go into operation later this year.

XsunX Moves Closer to Commercializing Its Innovative Technology for the Replacement of Silicon Solar Cells

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:43:00 +0000

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., March 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- XsunX, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: XSNX), the developer of advanced, thin-film photovoltaic (TFPV) solar cell technologies and manufacturing processes, today announced the company has reached a significant milestone in its development process: the completion of a co-evaporation processing chamber design that combines several thermal evaporation techniques in one unified process to produce the CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide) solar cell's absorber layer.

"This development is crucial to both the equipment and process technology side of our efforts," said Tom Djokovich, CEO of XsunX, Inc. "The completion of this chamber converges several operations that we have been developing separately, allowing all of the processes necessary to produce the CIGS layer for our cross-industry technology to work in unison. This development increases the rate with which we can develop this new technology towards our initial baseline commercialization goals. This is a fundamental next step in our plan to commercialize our hybrid CIGS manufacturing process, and deliver a potential replacement solution for the use of silicon."

The hybrid cross-industry system XsunX is developing is an integrated delivery method that uses proven material handling and automation technologies from the Hard Disk equipment (HD) industry and adapts them to small-area thin-film photovoltaic (TFPV) co-evaporation processes to configure the absorber layer, or solar power conversion portion of the cell, to produce low cost solar cells. The chamber will process 125 mm x 125 mm production-sized substrates that the company anticipates will be replicated as the key component of a full commercial production toolset, after additional testing of the chamber itself.

"This integration of numerous processing technologies into a single chamber design will allow us to begin testing the value of hard disk material handling and systems management technologies," said XsunX's CTO Robert Wendt. "From the start, we envisioned this chamber as the key to our ability to viably produce commercial quantities of CIGS solar cells using small-area processing techniques."

Mr. Wendt further added, "We believe that a key component to our success lies in our use of the co-evaporation process on individual small-area substrates, or wafers similar in size to silicon wafers, to produce the solar absorbing portion of the solar cell."

Co-evaporation has been at the forefront of technology development efforts at institutes worldwide such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL) here in the USA, and other renowned agencies including the Institute of Energy Conversion/University of Delaware and Stuttgart in Germany. Each of these agencies has achieved world class efficiency conversion capability utilizing co-evaporation techniques.

Chamber completion is the result of experimentation and design modifications to both equipment and process technology, and in addition to being the foundation on which XsunX will continue to build its technology, also serves as a distinguishing advancement in the company's intellectual capital portfolio. "From the beginning, we envisioned the completion of the chamber design, and its co-evaporation system, as a differentiating feat of the scientific team - a demonstration of their engineering and development prowess," noted Djokovich.

Yingli Green Energy Announces 300 MW PANDA Mono-Crystalline Manufacturing Capacity Expansion Project

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:41:00 +0000

BAODING, China, March 8 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE) ("Yingli Green Energy" or the "Company"), a leading solar energy company and one of the world's largest vertically integrated photovoltaic manufacturers, which holds the brand "Yingli Solar," today announced a 300 MW PANDA mono-crystalline silicon-based manufacturing capacity expansion project at its Baoding headquarters. The Company also announced a project loan of RMB 1.5 billion for the financing of this expansion project and a working capital credit facility of RMB 250 million, both granted by the Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., Hebei Branch ("BOCOM").

300 MW PANDA Mono-Crystalline Manufacturing Capacity Expansion at Baoding Headquarters

Yingli Green Energy announced its plan to build PANDA mono-crystalline silicon-based manufacturing lines with annual production capacity of 300 MW in each of mono-crystalline ingots and wafers, cells and modules at its Baoding headquarters, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Yingli Energy (China) Co., Ltd. ("Yingli China"). The new production lines will be designed to produce next-generation high efficiency PV cells based on the technology developed through Project PANDA, a collaboration among Yingli Green Energy, the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, a leading solar research center in Europe, and Amtech Systems, Inc. ( ASYS), a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of PV cells.

RMB 1.5 Billion Project Loan and RMB 250 Million Working Capital Credit Facility Granted by BOCOM

Yingli Green Energy also announced Yingli China has secured a project loan of RMB 1.5 billion and a working capital credit facility of RMB 250 million from BOCOM. Under the loan agreement, BOCOM has agreed to provide to Yingli China, subject to certain conditions, a five-year project loan of RMB 1.5 billion to support Yingli China's 300 MW expansion project in Baoding. In addition, BOCOM also granted a working capital credit facility of RMB 250 million to Yingli China.

"Shared anticipation of global PV industry growth, the robust flow of orders and inquiries that we have already received in 2010 and our global growth strategy are the main motivations for this strategic capacity expansion plan," said Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and CEO of Yingli Green Energy. "We believe this expansion will allow us to meet the increasing demand for our bankable, cost-effective products and further drive down costs through increased cell conversion efficiency and the larger scale of manufacturing. On the Project PANDA pilot line, we have already successfully produced next-generation cells with an average efficiency rate of 18% or higher. Looking ahead, we expect to increase the average efficiency rate to at least 18.5% on the commercial production lines by the end of this year. Combined with the existing 600 MW production capacity in Baoding and the 100 MW capacity under construction in Hainan Province, this new expansion project is expected to bring our total production capacity to 1 GW by the end of 2010. With this expansion in place, we will be better positioned than ever to solidify our leadership in the global PV market."

Pro-Tech Energy Solutions Launches Turnkey Energy Services Company

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:35:00 +0000

BRANCHBURG, N.J.March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Barry I. Skoultchi, P.E., today announced the formation of Pro-Tech Energy Solutions LLC, a self-funded turnkey energy services company offering a wide array of energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy offerings to the Mid-Atlantic region's commercial facilities looking to save money on utility costs.

As a complete turnkey company, Pro-Tech customizes the appropriate financing package to optimally balance each customer's resources, expectations and return on investment while maintaining direct control over the entire design and construction process. This service approach not only assures the client their project will be executed with the highest attention to detail but also an unsurpassed standard of quality in the company's five specialty areas, which include:

Energy efficiency evaluations and recommendations based on energy monitoring
Photovoltaic (PV) system design, engineering, and installation
Energy monitoring selection, installation and system commissioning
Management and coordination of state and federal grant applications
Assistance in the long and short-term management and sale of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC)

"The upfront costs of installing energy-saving upgrades, such as solar panels and efficient lighting, present a daunting barrier to entry for public and private commercial property owners, especially schools and other municipal–run facilities," said Skoultchi, Pro-Tech's President. "Recognizing this market inefficiency, Pro-Tech is creating a paradigm shift within the industry by allowing clients to make investments in energy upgrades with no upfront costs. This is possible by creating customized funding plans that maximize available federal, state and local rebates, tax credits and other incentives, augmented by funds secured by Pro-Tech."

The company's five partners, Gary Chernowetz, John Drexinger, John Martin, Paul Shust and Tom Ryan, draw upon decades of experience to provide Pro-Tech customers with true turnkey services in this emerging field.

"As the U.S. undertakes an unprecedented ramp-up of efficiency funding, offering $25 billion in energy efficiency programs through federal stimulus funds, companies nationwide are prospering from increasing energy efficiency and installing renewable energy, even in challenging times," said John Drexinger, Principal, Pro-Tech Energy Solutions. "But building this new energy economy requires private investment and a new way of doing business. Pro-Tech is leading the way with its self-funded financial model that provides direct access to much-needed capital funds."

Individual client savings vary depending on a number of factors including local energy rates, type of facility, hours of operation and level of business activity. The company's self-funded model allows clients to minimize financial risks by paying a portion of the savings results over the contract term.

"Existing buildings consume more than 70% of electricity and produce more than a third of the greenhouse gas pollution in the U.S.," said Drexinger. "We believe our finance model will help streamline the market and enable the rapid adoption of energy efficient upgrades. It is Pro-Tech's mission to help our clients understand that financial resources exist to help make energy upgrades as good for business as they are for the environment."

BioSolar Announces Plans for Expanded Line of BioBacksheets for Photovoltaic Module Manufacturing in Various Grades

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:26:00 +0000

SANTA CLARITA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BioSolar, Inc. (OTCBB:BSRC), developer of a breakthrough technology to produce bio-based materials from renewable plant sources that reduce the cost of photovoltaic solar modules, today announced plans for an extended line of BioBacksheets used to protect PV modules compatible with conventional c-Si PV modules.

Conventional c-Si Photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturers will soon have two different types of BioBacksheets to choose from depending on their durability and cost requirements: 1) a multi-layer BioBacksheet-C for conventional applications and 2) a new mono-layer BioBacksheet product line for premium applications. These products were developed to meet the existing and future direct needs of potential customers.

The announcement represents the latest addition to a broad and growing portfolio of bio-based backsheet materials made from renewable plant sources that reduce the cost of solar modules and eliminate the need for dangerous toxins found in petroleum based backsheets currently in use.

Hailed by Design News as one of the “companies developing plastics from sustainable resources, such as plants not used as food sources, for photovoltaic cells, which are on the verge of an explosive growth burst,” BioSolar recognizes the key to success is providing manufacturers various backsheet grades with corresponding price points to accommodate both the durability and economic requirements of each solar panel manufacturer.

The premium grade BioBacksheet will also feature monolayer construction, which eliminates the inner de-lamination issue associated with incumbent petroleum based backsheets, drastically improving its long term durability over traditional multi-layer backsheet construction. All grades of BioBacksheet will be less costly than their petroleum-based counterparts.

“As the global demand for solar energy continues to increase, BioSolar is uniquely positioned to replace conventional petroleum-based backsheets for c-Si PV modules which represent more than 70 percent of the PV module market,” said Dr. David Lee, CEO of BioSolar. “Though it is generally expected to take time for a brand new PV component like BioBacksheet to reach a revenue stage, a complete line up of BioBacksheets will not only help BioSolar achieve meaningful revenue more rapidly, but expanding our line to better suit the practical and economical needs of manufacturers is yet another example of how BioSolar is innovating to make solar power a more viable and eco-friendlier alternative energy option.”

In a February 23, 2010 article on The Green Economy , Dr. Lee notes that “solar cells themselves are unlikely to see dramatic cost reductions while the ‘non-active materials’ that support the cells…are ripe for the kind of cost reduction that could make solar competitive even without government subsidies.” The article calls his remarks “supported by a new report from Lux Research, Driving Down Solar Costs: Non-active Material Opportunities, which noted that while active semiconductor materials get a lot of attention, the “lesser-known non-active materials significantly impact module efficiency, and account for 15% to 48% of module manufacturing costs.”

SunLink Ships Roof Mount System for Nation’s Largest Municipal Solar Energy Project

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:25:00 +0000

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SunLink® Corporation today announced that its industry-leading roof module mounting solution has begun shipping for one of the nation’s largest municipal solar installation, a five megawatt project located on the Sunset Reservoir in San Francisco, California. Chosen by Recurrent Energy, an independent power producer and a leading developer of solar power projects, SunLink’s solution will be used to mount over 23,000 Suntech (NYSE:STP) solar modules on the flat, seismically retrofitted rooftop of the Reservoir.

“We are pleased to have been awarded this project, particularly given its magnitude and advancement of the City of San Francisco’s renewable energy goals,” said Christopher Tilley, CEO, SunLink. “Our flagship roof mounting solution is one of the most widely adopted in the industry due to our extensive engineering, design expertise, and ability to work within a project’s constraints such as this one, which required no penetrations in the Reservoir’s roof surface.”

“We have worked in cooperation with SunLink on numerous solar projects and we continue to be impressed with their value-added services and reliable mounting technology,” said Arno Harris, CEO, Recurrent Energy. “We look forward to furthering our relationship with SunLink throughout the development of this large distributed-scale solar power installation.”

Upon completion in the Fall this year, the Sunset Reservoir project will more than triple the municipal solar generation in San Francisco and reduce carbon emissions by over 100,000 metric tons. The solar plant is being developed and operated under a Power Purchase Agreement between the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and Recurrent Energy. The clean solar electricity will be fed into the distribution grid and used by the General Hospital, San Francisco International Airport, Muni light rail, public schools throughout the city, and streetlights.

Applied Materials Announces Increased Cash Dividend and $2 Billion Share Repurchase Authorization

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:24:00 +0000

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT), the global leader in Nanomanufacturing Technology™ solutions for the semiconductor, flat panel display and solar industries, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a 17% increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.07 per share, payable on June 16, 2010 to stockholders of record as of May 26, 2010. Previously, the quarterly cash dividend was $0.06 per share.

Applied's Board also approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing up to $2 billion in repurchases over the next three years ending in March 2013.

“Applied’s strong financial position and operating cash flow enable us to invest in growth opportunities throughout our businesses as well as return cash to stockholders,” said Mike Splinter, chairman and chief executive officer. ”Today’s dividend increase reflects our confidence in the company’s near and long-term prospects for growth and profitability. The buyback program provides a flexible means to return excess cash to shareholders.”

As of January 31, 2010, Applied Materials had approximately 1.34 billion shares of common stock outstanding.