Solar Power International 2011 (SPI 2011) is taking place this week in Dallas and six of the country’s leading solar executives and innovators held a press call this morning from the conference to talk about issues of interest to the industry. Lyndon Rive, CEO of SolarCity, says there is tremendous momentum in the solar industry despite backlash from the Solyndra …
ZeaChem Makes Cleantech 100 List
Cellulosic ethanol developer ZeaChem has been named one of the 2011 Global Cleantech 100 companies. The annual list is produced by Cleantech Group in collaboration with UK’s Guardian News, focusing on companies they believe are likely to make the most significant impact over the next 5-10 years. “ZeaChem is building a portfolio of advanced biofuels and bio-based chemicals derived from …
Joule Wins Wall Street Journal Award
Joule Unlimited Technologies has received the 2011 Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award in the Energy category and was also named the Silver award winner across all of the competition’s 16 categories, from more than 600 entries around the globe. “We are honored to be the Wall Street Journal’s choice for the most innovative energy company, and to be recognized …
BioSolar Supplying Asian Manufacturers
A company that makes bio-based materials for solar panels is getting more interest from Asian solar companies. California-based BioSolar, which develops materials from renewable plant sources that reduce the cost of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules, reports that a number of Asian solar manufacturers are actively evaluating the company’s BioBacksheet for use in solar panels. BioSolar previously reported that it entered …
GeoGenix Offers Residential Solar Discounts
>New Jersey-based GeoGenix, a SunPower Elite dealer, is offering residential solar systems at a reduced price through the “Drive Green for Life” program that was recently announced by Ford and SunPower Corp. The “Drive Green for Life” program offers buyers of the 2012 Ford Focus Electrica zero-emissions driving experience that allow electric vehicle (EV) drivers to reduce lifetime auto costs …
Solar Takes Over St. Louis
Solar energy has taken over St. Louis. The St. Louis Housing Authority recently completed five solar energy projects that included powering its administrative building along with four affordable housing complexes. The 617 KW combined solar projects were designed, installed and engineered by Real Goods Solar and the energy produced is expected to reduce the complexes’ electricity use by more than …
NY Landfill Solar Project Completed
Here is unique use of solar. Carlisle Energy Services (CES) has completed its Sepctro PowerCap Exposed Geomembrane Solar Cover system in Madison County, New York. This technology will “cover” the landfill for up to 30 years. The eight-acre demonstration system feature’s the GeoTPO Geomembrane with a south-facing 40kWp DC integrated solar photovoltaic array powered by Uni-Solar. The system is expected …
Youth in South Africa to Attend Solar Training
Local youth in Durban, South Africa will be participating in a two-week solar training course compliments of Greenpeace. The 30 youth will learn about solar photovoltaic (PV) and other renewable energy technologies in addition to completing course modules covering social entrepreneurship and Greenpeace’s Energy (R)evolution report. The PV panels were donated by the SunPower Foundation and will be installed as …
Arizona State Leads Way in Use of Solar
The U.S.-based University that uses the most solar energy in its mix is Arizona State University (ASU), which exceeds 10 megawatts (MW) of solar-energy capacity. The solar energy produced is enough to power 2,500 average sized homes. This is according to Ameresco Southwest, Inc. “Surpassing 10 megawatts of solar energy capacity is a tremendous accomplishment for ASU and our partners,” …
Solectra Renewables Awarded $2.1M DOE Contract
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a $2.1 million contract to Solectria Renewables as part of its SunShot Initiative, to develop integrated smart-grid ready photovoltaic (PV) inverters with utility communications. The project will be completed in partnership with Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Detroit Edison, National Grid, and Xcel Energy. The DOE program is aimed at bringing cost-competitive …