The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) has launched a new campaign, Solar Freedom Now (SFN). The initiative aims to attack a major barrier to solar energy deployment – cost and the paperwork and red tape that doubles installation costs. The goal of ASES is to make it fast and easy to install rooftop solar panels. The first step of the Solar Freedom …
Solar Industry Responds to Anti-Dumping Allegations
The Chinese solar community is responding to anti-dumping allegations of Chinese solar products. The European Commission is currently reviewing charges by several European companies. Representatives of JinkoSolar, based in Shanghai, said the charges are unfounded and unfair and do not reflect the reality of the highly-competitive global solar industry. They also believe that trade protectionism will only harm fair competition in the …
Solar Market Spikes
According to the “U.S. Solar Market Insight: 2nd Quarter 2012” report from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the solar industry achieved its second best quarter ever. In the second quarter of this year, 742 megawatts of solar power was installed. The utility market hit 477 megawatts during the same timeframe with eight states now having installed 10 …
Schools in Japan Complete Solar Projects
Sometimes good things really do come out of something bad. The Great East Japan Earthquake devastated schools, businesses, homes and lives. But this week, the Japan Reconstruction Fund held a ceremony at Shinchi Elementary School to commemorate the completion of several solar facilities in four public elementary and junior high schools in the town of Shinchi in Soma-gun, Fukushima Prefecture. The solar …
Jurupa Unified Schools Go Solar
Another school district has taken advantage of the California Sun. Jurupa Unified School District has completed a 2.7 megawatt solar and energy efficiency program expected to reduce energy costs by nearly 26 percent among 27 school sites. Estimates show that the solar system should save nearly $34 million in energy costs. Solar Photovoltaic panels were mounted on parking and shade …
Renewable Energy Part of Obama Acceptance
Renewable energy was part of President Obama’s acceptance speech Thursday night as the Democratic nominee for 2012. “We have doubled our use of renewable energy, and thousands of Americans have jobs today building wind turbines and long-lasting batteries,” Obama said to applause. “In the last year alone, we cut oil imports by 1 million barrels a day, more than any …
Have You Signed up for a Solar Tour?
October is National Energy Awareness Month. The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) National Solar Tour is taking place beginning the first Saturday of the month with additional tours being held throughout the month. The largest grassroots solar event in the U.S., last year more than 160,000 people visited over 5,500 buildings in 3,200 communities across the country. The national event …
China Dominates Renewable Energy Market
According to the most recent Global Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices Report (CAI), China will continue to dominate the global renewable energy market. The country has quadrupled its solar capacity target to 50GW by 2020. At the top of the All Renewable Index (ARI), China will have to overcome some challenges including oversupply of wind turbines and solar panels as …
SoloPower Adds Another Patent to Portfolio
SoloPower has added another patent to its growing solar portfolio. The company specializes in the development and manufacture of thin-film solar cells and modules. This patent is the company’s 50th with 41 patents in the U.S. and nine patents internationally. SoloPower was the first to receive certification of flexible CIGS panels to both UL and IEC standards. “The strength of SoloPower’s intellectual …
CBD Energy, Westinghouse Solar Announce Projects
Australia-based CBD Energy Ltd. has announced it is getting into the renewable energy businesses in the U.S. The move comes after the company revealed its proposed merger with Westinghouse Solar, Inc., and its technologies and services will be debuted during the upcoming Solar Power International conference, Sept. 10-13, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. “CBD Energy’s pending merger with Westinghouse Solar offers …