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Technology Review on Solar Energy |
HenryTo
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 Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:14 am Post subject: Technology Review on Solar Energy |
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Assembly line should be ready by sometime next year:
| Quote: | | Much more efficient solar cells may soon be possible as a result of technology that more efficiently captures and uses light. StarSolar, a startup based in Cambridge, MA, aims to capture and use photons that ordinarily pass through solar cells without generating electricity. The company, which is licensing technology developed at MIT, claims that its designs could make it possible to cut the cost of solar cells in half while maintaining high efficiency. This would make solar power about as cheap as electricity from the electric grid. |
Story here: http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/18415/ |
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Technology Review on Solar Energy Replies |
HenryTo
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HenryTo
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| Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:55 am Post subject: |
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Department of Energy installs a rooftop solar system:
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/16719
| Quote: | | The 205-kilowatt photovoltaic system will generate approximately 200 megawatt hours of electricity annually, provide up to eight percent of the Forrestal complex's energy during peak hours, and save as much as $26,000 in utility costs in its first year of operation. |
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HenryTo
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HenryTo
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:14 am Post subject: |
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PG&E signs a massive contract to bring 800 megawatts of solar power online by 2011:
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SunPower shares shine on solar project contract
Friday August 15, 11:59 am ET
SunPower shares shine after California utility picks it for solar power project
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- Shares of solar power company SunPower Corp. jumped Friday after a San Francisco-based utility selected it and another supplier for a large project near the central California coast.
SunPower shares rose $14.15, or 18 percent, to $92.72 in morning trading. The stock has ranged from $53.18 to $164.49 over the past year.
Citi analyst Timothy Arcuri wrote in a research note that it appears SunPower "is racing to sign big deals -- even at the eventual expense of margins -- ahead of lower-cost suppliers" like First Solar Inc.
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announced Thursday that it will buy a total of 800 megawatts of renewable energy -- enough to power 239,000 homes each year -- from subsidiaries of Hayward, Calif.-based OptiSolar Inc. and SunPower.
The two plants in San Luis Obispo County will be able to generate more electricity than all the PV solar-electric systems panels installed in the U.S. in 2007.
Privately held OptiSolar's 550-megawatt Topaz Solar Farm project is expected to begin delivering power in 2011, while SunPower's 250-megawatt project is expected to start power delivery in 2010.
Calyon Securities analyst George Kotzias said the deals are contingent on Congress extending solar energy income tax credits set to expire at year's end.
"The commitment by PG&E is a wake-up call for Congress to act on extending the ITC when it returns from recess," Kotzias said in a note to investors Friday. "We feel that acts like this are exactly what is needed to light the fire under the feet of our federal policy makers."
Calyon rates SunPower shares a "Buy" with a price target of $100. Merrill Lynch on Friday raised SunPower to "Buy" from "Hold." |
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HenryTo
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| Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:00 am Post subject: |
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Sanyo labels its solar business as a significant growth driver of its overall business over the next decade. As we mentioned in our most recent weekend commentary, the alternative energy sector's momentum is now too strong for fossil fuels to ever displace again:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aNcFbdtBKwV8&refer=japan
| Quote: | | The Osaka-based company is investing 70 billion yen ($647 million) in its solar business in the three years through March 2011 to narrow the gap with domestic rivals Sharp Corp. and Kyocera Corp. Sanyo, which in May reported its first annual profit in four years, has identified solar power and lithium-ion batteries as its focus to sustain earnings growth. |
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HenryTo
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| Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks DK, for posting that.
This is a pretty big breakthrough. McKinsey certainly felt it was important enough to notify their clients on this, with the accompanying article:
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Energy_Resources_Materials/Strategy_Analysis/The_economics_of_solar_power_2161
| Quote: | June 2008
A new era for solar power is approaching. Long derided as uneconomic, it is gaining ground as technologies improve and the cost of traditional energy sources rises. Within three to seven years, unsubsidized solar power could cost no more to end customers in many markets, such as California and Italy, than electricity generated by fossil fuels or by renewable alternatives to solar. By 2020, global installed solar capacity could be 20 to 40 times its level today.
But make no mistake, the sector is still in its infancy. Even if all of the forecast growth occurs, solar energy will represent only about 3 to 6 percent of installed electricity generation capacity, or 1.5 to 3 percent of output in 2020. While solar power can certainly help to satisfy the desire for more electricity and lower carbon emissions, it is just one piece of the puzzle.
What’s more, solar power faces challenges that are common in emerging sectors. Several technologies are competing to win the lowest-cost laurels, and it’s not yet clear which is going to win. Rapid growth has created shortages and high margins for early players, such as the silicon refiners Dow Corning, REC Solar, and Wacker, as well as the component manufacturers First Solar, Q-Cells, and SunPower. Fueled by ever-increasing flows of new equity from venture capital and private-equity firms—$3.2 billion in 2007—innovative new competitors are entering the sector, and with them the potential for excess supply, falling prices, and deteriorating financial performance for some time.
With competition heating up, the companies building the equipment that generates solar power must relentlessly cut their costs by improving the processes they use to manufacture solar cells, investing in research and development, and moving production to low-cost countries. At the same time, they must secure access to raw materials without tying themselves to the wrong technology or partner.
The evolution of technology looms large for utilities as well. If they hesitate to undertake large long-term investments until the dust clears, they risk losing customers to players such as panel installers willing to put up and finance solar units on the roofs of buildings in return for a share of the savings the owners enjoy. As always in the utility sector, it will be essential to deploy smart regulatory strategies, which in some regions might mean including solar investments in the capital base used to set rates for consumers. Government policies will also continue to influence the sector’s development heavily. Deciding when and how to phase out subsidies will be critical for creating a vibrant, cost-competitive sector.
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dknoester
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HenryTo
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HenryTo
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:31 am Post subject: |
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Japanese government embarks on an aggressive plan to halve the cost of solar power (in the next three to five years) and to dramatically increase solar power production capacity over the next decade:
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080727TDY02311.htm |
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HenryTo
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LaBelleInvestor
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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Jack Johnson's Sleep Through Static album was recorded through solar energy.
| Quote: | | His recording studio is constructed with the latest green technologies--in fact, his new album, "Sleep Through the Static" (out on Feb. 5) was recorded using 100 percent solar energy. |
http://www.newsweek.com/id/103265
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rffrydr
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:40 am Post subject: |
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Perfect opp for solar in SA if for no other reason than future imputs remain constant: energy crunch as much about subsidy as price of coal.
| Quote: | | ... Much to the chagrin of South Africans, accustomed to some of the planet’s cheapest electricity, the energy regulator has approved tariff increases amounting to 27.5 per cent for this year. It also permitted Eskom to pass on some fuel-price rises from next year. Mr Maroga said prices would have to rise further as he unveiled annual results showing pre-tax profit falling by 86 per cent year-on-year to R1.3bn on increased revenues of R44bn |
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f184a62c-541f-11dd-aa78-000077b07658.html
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rffrydr
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| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 7:46 am Post subject: |
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That Prius solar panel is marketing...but the guy in Monrovia who did it said it gives him 5 more miles. In an electric car that 5 miles can be a glorius thing.
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HenryTo
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HenryTo
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 12:30 am Post subject: |
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Toyota primed to add solar panels to the next Prius. More of a symbolic gesture right now - but making this a more common feature of our everyday lives would surely bring more innovations in this area over the long-run:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7634533 |
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