According to a new report by GBI Research, “Solar Thermal Power Market to 2020,” it will take worldwide government support to have a major impact on the renewable energy industry. Government attitudes to solar thermal power, or concentrated solar power (CSP), will be a key determinant to the future success of the market, which today, has a high cost of …
FREE Webinar: Solar in the Military
The U.S. military has taken a strong lead in the use and development of alternative energy including solar energy. On Thursday, July 19th at 12:00 pm EDT, Principle Solar Institute is hosting a free webinar: Solar in the Military. The focus is on the Department of Defenses’s (DOD) strategic vision for solar energy and its goal for implementation. Pew Charitable …
SoloPower’s Flexible Solar Cells Receive Certification
California solar cell maker SoloPower received ETL certification for its next-generation, thin, flexible SF1, SP1, and SP3L SoloPanels to UL 1703 and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. Company officials say this just adds to to its track record on flexible solar modules: [Tim Harris, CEO, of SoloPower says,] “It represents another step towards our goal of making solar the …
USDA Funds Rural Energy Projects
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA has selected for funding 450 projects focused on helping agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy consumption and costs; use renewable energy technologies in their operation; and/or conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy projects. Funding is made available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) under the 2008 Farm Bill. …
Study: Solar Power Would Lower Texans’ Energy Bills
A new study shows that adding solar capacity to the Texas electrical grid would lower electricity prices for customers in the Lone Star State. This press release from the Solar Energy Industries Association says an analysis from the Brattle Group energy consultancy explains how solar photovoltaic (PV) systems would impact the rates: Their report concludes that adding photovoltaic solar to …
Europe Set to Dominate in Solar Power
Europe is sitting pretty to dominate in the use of solar power. The solar industry is expected to grow up to 150GWp by 2020. According to a report by McKinsey, “Solar power: Darkest before dawn,” the solar industry is entering a period of maturation. Over the next few years, this will lead to more stable and expansive growth for companies …
ImagineSolar CEO Speaks on Industry Careers
Speaking on the opening day of the 38th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), Austin Solar Day, Michael Kuhn, CEO of ImagineSolar, said the solar and smart grid industries are launching an expanding wave of new technologies and business models that are disruptive to the traditional energy industry. The IEEE PVSC is the premier technical conference covering all aspects of PV …
Junior Solar Sprint Races to Middle Schools
The San Diego Renewable Energy Society (SDRES) has announced a new science educational program that focuses on solar power for middle school students and teachers. Junior Solar Sprint is a hands-on educational program that gives students the ability to design, build and race their own solar powered model cars. The program is currently limited to San Diego middle schools and …
Ag Facility Early Adopter of Solar Technology
Kirschenman Enterprises, an agricultural company that grows, packs ands ships potatoes, grapes and watermelon, has installed a solar system at their cold storage facility in Bakersfield, California. The fixed tilt ground and roof-mounted 510kW solar electric installation features Coenergy Solar’s PH235P solar modules and SunTop and SolarLinea II mounting systems. The solar system has the capacity to produce 768,182 kWh …
SunShot Initiative Summit Focuses on Solar
The solar industry will be the focus of the upcoming SunShot Initiative Summit and Technology Forum on June 13-14, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. Hosted by the Department of Energy (DOE), the forum aims to develop a plan to achieve grid-parity solar energy within the decade. To promote development, the DOE is sponsoring a Grand Challenge series designed to address the scientific, …