Rise & Shine: December 9, 2008
The Rise & Shine is your daily source for all solar-industry news. Brought to you by Sweet Solar Home and the Experts at SunRun.
CALIFORNIA NEWS
Burbank Airport’s Solar-Powered Hangar to be Unveiled
A team of Southern California developers today is taking the wraps off what may be the world’s greenest aviation facility, one capable of powering a Boeing 757 with solar energy while the aircraft is on the ground for maintenance.
Cool Earth Solar’s Solution: Big Party Balloons
The Livermore company, formed in early 2007 and now with 25 employees, believes it can deliver renewable solar energy on a grand scale.
NATIONAL NEWS
SkyPower & SunEdison Secure Financing for First Light Project
SkyPower and SunEdison have secured financing with Nord/LB for a 9MW solar power project being developed by a joint venture between the two companies in Ontario.
150 Solar Startups, Part 4: Thin Film
Out of the 35 or so private thin-film firms, only a few will survive and even fewer will make it to the VC goal line an IPO or acquisition.
Solar Panel Installers jump 200% under Mass. Program
Solar installers, on the other hand, are basking in business and lining up work from both residential and commercial clients over the next few years, and as a result are creating jobs and jockeying for top position.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Grid Parity and the Great $1 Myth
The notion that module prices need to come down to $1 per watt for solar to be competitive is misplaced at best, and to a great degree, just plain wrong, says Greentech Media’s Senior Analyst, Solar Markets, Shyam Mehta.
PUC Explores Deregulation of State’s Electricity Market
The move would allow retail users to shop around for best prices, but some link that policy to the 2000-01 energy crisis.
Florida Renewable Portfolio Standard
It is critical that the state establish a strong RPS target and the right framework to encourage a diversity of renewable resources.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
No Happy New Year for the Solar Industry
While demand for solar panels is expected to continue to grow by double-digits in the years ahead, 2009 could be a make-or-break year for some companies, according to an analysis from HSBC Global Research.
Suntech CEO: Solar Panel Glut to Slash prices 30% in 2009
The CEO of Suntech expects oversupply and top-to-bottom cost cuts to help drive the company’s prices down 20-30% compared with Q3 2008. The sector could slash prices by half as soon as 2013, he added.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
SEIA Joins Leading Solar Companies in Call for More Reliance on Global Solar
“Solar is not only the cleanest technology, but also produces more jobs per megawatt (MW) of installed electricity capacity than any other source of energy” said John Stanton, executive vice president of SEIA.
First Solar, Suntech Lobby at U.N. Climate Change Convention
Heads of First Solar, Suntech and Solarcentury are in Poland for a two-week meeting focusing on crafting a climate change policy to succeed the Kyoto Protocol.
TECHNOLOGY
University of California, Santa Barbara and Universite Laval Significantly Advance Efficiency Performance of Konarka’s Polymer Solar Cells
the material class within Konarka’s portfolio of flexible organic based photovoltaic solar cells has demonstrated 6% efficiency performance.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Centrosolar Ramps Up PV Manufacturing Capacity
Centrosolar Group AG has officially opened a solar module factory in Wismar that will produce 150 megawatts (MW) annually from 2010 on.
Wiesenhof and Colexon Sign Memorandum of Understanding
Wiesenhof, a PHW Group company, and Germany PV system integrator, Colexon have signed an MOU for the promotion for solar electricity. The MOU will provide Colexon with access to 400,000 sqm of roofs for PV installations.
Colexon Signs 150MW Thin Film Supply Agreement
Masdar PV and German system integrator Colexon Energy ave signed a binding off-take agreement for the delivery of thin film solar modules. The agreement initially comprises the supply of more than 150 MWp thin-film solar modules from 2009 to 2013.
Renesola Divests Interest in Polysilicon Joint Venture
Chinese wafer manufacturer, ReneSola has sold its 49% equity interest in Linzhou Zhongsheng Semiconductor Silicon Material Co., Ltd.
Q-Cells Reduces 2008 Revenue Forecast
Q-Cells is reducing its forecast for the 2008 financial year due to short notice unexpected developments. Uncertainty and the weakening market demand have resulted in a number of Q-Cells’ customers postponing agreed deliveries until next year.
Signet Beings Serial Production of World’s Largest Thin-film Modules
After 15 months of construction, Signet Solar GmbH’s plant in Mochau, Germany, started serial production of silicon thin-film modules in October.
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