Canadian Solar has released its latest technology, ELPS solar cell technology. ELPS achieves up to 19.5 percent cell efficiency for the monocrystalline and up to 18 percent for polycrystalline cells. The new technology will be debuted at Intersolar Munich, 2011. “With the new ELPS Cell technology we again managed to significantly lower the production cost per watt while at the …
Crimea Home to New Solar Power Project
The Ukraine has finalized the construction of a new solar energy power station in the Crimea with the help of Nature Energy. The new solar project is a part of the country’s National Projects aimed at lessening the imported energy consumption by 30 percent by 2015. The solar power system has the ability to produce up to 25 thousand megawatt-hours, …
Principal Solar Acquires Capstone Solar
Principal Solar, Inc. (PSI) has announced its acquisition of Capstone Solar, a news and networking site geared to solar professionals. Terms were not disclosed but Principal Solar said the deal fits within their unique company solar strategy. Capstone Co-Founder Dan Bedell said it is great to find a group of people so committed to the advancement of solar power as …
Book Review – Switching to Solar
I’m writing this post, sitting outside, overlooking a pool sparkling in the sunshine. OK, not really but it gets your mind in the right place – a sunny day. Solar energy has been gaining ground in both the U.S. and especially Europe so I thought it was high-time I learn more about the history of solar. “Switching to Solar,” by …
Umbria Italy Home of New Solar Farm
Next time you visit Italy there will be a new “eco-tourist” destination. A solar farm is up and running in the municipality of Castel Giorgio in the region of Umbria Italy. The solar farm is nestled among farming land on the summit of a high plateau a few miles from Lake Bolsena a popular agrotourism area. The 2 megawatt system …
Lakeside Dairy Goes Solar
Agriculture gets greener everyday. Lakeside Dairy in Hanford, Cali. has gone solar. The dairy installed a new solar energy system to power its milking barn and other dairy operations. With the system in place, they expect to cut their conventional energy use by 75 percent. The family-owned dairy has 7,000 head of cattle and a custom farming business. I don’t …
Nissan Installs 30 Solar EV Chargers at TN Plant
International car manufacturer Nissan North America has begun the installation of 30 solar charging stations at its Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant in Franklin, Tennessee. This project is one of dozens that Nissan has invested in the state totaling more than $3.5 billion over 30 years. The solar chargers are designed to charge the Nissan LEAF, an all electric vehicle (EV) …
New England Goes Solar
Con Edison Development now owns and operates the largest operating solar power system in New England. The ten-acre solar facility is located in the New Bedford Business Park, located between Dartmouth and New Bedford, Massachusetts. The 2-megawatt project consists of more than 8,000 ground mounted crystalline silicon panels generating enough electricity to power 2,000 average sized homes. “As New England’s …
Greening a Golf Course
There’s more green on this golf course than the “greens.” The Meadow Club in Fairfax, California has just completed a solar power system installation that consists of 2.057 square feet of Sharp solar panels. The project was a venture between Novato and SolarCraft, a solar energy contractor, and the operational solar system is located on the Club’s maintenance building. It …
UC Davis Strives for Zero Net Energy Campus
University of California, Davis is striving to become a zero net energy campus. The first development will be the UC Davis West Village. The development will combine advanced energy efficient design features that include a 4 megawatt (MW) SunPower solar power system. The solar system, comprised of both rooftop and solar canopies installed in parking areas, will generate the equivalent …