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Solar Energy - General
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| Article Title | Author | Company | eMag Issue | Article Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid (photovoltaic (electric) and thermal) Solar Panels | Sean Furlow & Marie Luise Rauscher | SolarZentrum | Jun 2013 |
Our Combined Heat and Power (CHP) solar module provides up to 4 times more energy output (thermal and electric power) than any standard photovoltaic module. |
| Solar Portfolio UP 39% for 2012 - Outperforms Markets by 325% | Peter Lynch for | InvestorIdeas.com | Feb 2013 |
Our solar portfolio currently consists of three stocks - First Solar (FSLR), Jinko Solar (JKS) and MEMC Materials (WFR) all three positions where initiated at the close of the market on November 29 2012 |
| CSP Industry – Adapt or Else | Belén Gallego | CSP Today | Dec 2012 |
The CSP industry is going global in an unprecedented rate and there is no way to understand it by confining its development it to one market only. Make no mistake, despite the difficult times, the industry will persevere through the challenging times ahead… but the companies that do not adapt to its changing nature will not. |
| The OPDE Group | José Antonio Mieres, CEO and Director | OPDE Group | Oct 2011 |
OPDE is a Spanish corporation with a global vision that specialises in photovoltaic solar energy systems. We have three business lines. OPDE develops, builds, and carries out maintenance of photovoltaic solar plants; PROINSO supplies modules, inverters, trackers, and other equipments for photovoltaic installations; MECASOLAR specialises in the design and manufacture of solar trackers, fixed structures, and foundation screws. |
| MicroCSP (Concentrated Solar Power) | Darren Kimura | Sopogy | Oct 2011 |
MicroCSP power projects all include sun tracker and thermal storage. The cost is around the same as PV but you generate more electricity per day because of the tracker/storage combination so you have a lower cost of energy. |
| Bright Spots in U.S. Solar Industry Growth | Michael Gorton | Principal Solar | Oct 2011 |
California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Colorado Shine Light on Power of Sun |
| The Zebra Breakthrough | Franco Traverso | Silfab SpA | Aug 2011 |
Our strategy is focused on being close to the market. For the last 25 years the photovoltaic sector has operated mainly in a horizontal fashion. Now the time for vertical integration has come, and we are well positioned for this change. With this in mind, the recent joint venture Espe-SunParc will allow Silfab to be completely involved in every segment of the downstream market, including Solar Farms. |
| GreenField Solar Drives Low-Cost Solar Energy to Mainstream Adoption | Interview with | Greenfield Solar | Aug 2011 |
GreenField Solar (GreenField) is a developer of high-intensity photovoltaic concentrators, which offer the potential to drive low-cost solar energy into mainstream adoption, using readily available materials and technology that is capital efficient. |
| SunWave Technology | Mary Grikas | Petra Solar | Jun 2011 |
Smart Solar is highly distributed, large scale solar coupled with Smart Grid technology installed in partnership with utility companies. Smart Solar builds solar in a reliable and cost-effective way that mitigates challenges faced by traditional solar. Smart Solar is the best insurance for long-term grid stability. |
| Solar Cogeneration - The highest utilization of the sun's resources | Gilad Almogy | Cogenra | Jun 2011 |
Solar cogeneration combines proven photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal technologies to maximize total collected energy and optimize economic benefits for institutional, commercial and industrial customers. Using up to 80 percent of the sun’s delivered energy |
| Echo Captures More Untapped Solar Energy | Contributed by | EchoFirst | Jun 2011 |
This is an interesting use of existing technologies combined to build a viable solution. |
| Where the Solar PV Industry Needs to Go - Now! | Peter Lynch | Sun Series | Feb 2011 |
The technical advances of cost effective PV and advanced storage along with the legislative changes must occur if the industry is to grow rapidly enough to become a significant component of the world’s future energy portfolio in the next 15 to 20 years (i.e. PV supplying more than 20% of the world’s electricity). Advances in any of the three areas will certainly help and will benefit the industry as a whole, but ALL three are necessary if PV is to take its place as the most flexible, cost effective and distributed form of energy and all three are necessary to accelerate the transition to a post fossil fuel economy. |
| Solar Shutters | Interview with David Curran | Plug ‘N Save Energy Products | Feb 2011 |
The PV Solar Shutter is a perfect fit because it requires no roof space and no large battery banks, and is very easy to install and uninstall. Each unit can purchase its own shutters, have its own power source, and offset usage one window at a time. Even renters can, like any other window covering, take their shutters with them if when they move. |
| Contractors utilize new technologies to provide Solar Installations | Karen L. Edwards | Eagleview | Feb 2011 |
Many roofing contractors see the importance that solar will play in their future business but realize they don’t necessarily have the expertise required to offer solar. With new construction starts and completions remaining down, it’s more important than ever for the traditional roofing contractor to be able to provide solar solutions to their customers who may be inquiring about a new roof. |
| Worldwide Solar Solution Demand | Greg Schulte | Bonfiglioli | Dec 2010 |
Greg Schulte is the President of Bonfiglioli USA, one of the world's leading designers and manufacturers of gear motors, drive systems and planetary gearboxes. The company is also a primary developer of systems which integrate electronic, hydraulic and mechanical engineering. He was appointed to this position in June 2008 and oversees the Bonfiglioli Group’s American subsidiary headquarters located in Hebron, Kentucky. |
| Understanding Residential Solar Power Warranties | MyEnergySolution.com | Dec 2010 |
When considering a residential solar power system, homeowners have numerous concerns before they commit to an installation. First and foremost, they are concerned about cost, then they want to know what the structural impact will be on their home and then they will, of course, be concerned about performance of the system. When considering performance, homeowners need to be comfortable with the warranty that comes with their home solar power system and what to expect when purchasing residential solar panels. | |
| Sonelis Technologies: Custom Shape Solar Panels | Philip Fu | Sonelis Technologies | Dec 2010 |
As the market for solar powered devices matures, more and more consumers will demand aesthetics to play a bigger role in the overall design of the product. Adding a black rectangular solar panel on top of a device might not be good enough anymore. |
| SolarWindow™ Technology | John Conklin | New Energy Technologies | Dec 2010 |
New Energy Technologies, Inc., publicly traded under the symbol NENE on the OTCBB, is focused on the research, development and eventual commercialization of emerging next-generation alternative and renewable energy technologies. Among our current research and development activities is the development of the first-of-its-kind SolarWindow™ technology, which enables see-thru windows to generate electricity by 'spraying' their glass surfaces with New Energy’s electricity-generating coatings. |
| SOLAR vs. NUCLEAR | Jim Lindsey | SolarPlexusco | Dec 2010 |
Few people realize what a huge impact several hundred thousand solar water heaters can have on a country’s energy demand. Thermal solar (heating water) is a sensible and efficient way to avoid the expense and potential danger of nuclear plants. Hot water is always needed and solar energy is the best method to meet those demands. Since thermal solar heats our oceans, isn't it about time we utilize the proven technology of solar water heaters? |
| Soaring Photovoltaic Demand Drives Record Levels of Equipment Spending | Solarbuzz News | Dec 2010 |
Chinese and Taiwanese Manufacturers Account for 80% of Q3’10 Incremental Capacity | |
| New feed in Tariff scheme approved in Italy | David Armanini | Prothea | Dec 2010 |
About 1,5 GW of power settled, an annual national grow rate of 100% and more than 800 MW installed in the last year: the Italian PV is one of the most interesting market of renewable energies in the world. |
| Increasing the Efficiency of Utility-Scale Solar Plants with Secure Wireless Technology | Colin Lippincott | FreeWave Technologies, Inc. | Dec 2010 |
Solar plants can exist over a large geographical area and operators must be able to easily and quickly determine the ‘health,’ status and performance of individual assets and the system as a whole. |
| Grid Interconnection Solutions for Solar and Wind Power Plants | Perry Schugart | American Superconductor | Dec 2010 |
AMSC Launches SolarTie™ Grid Interconnection Solution for Utility-Scale Solar Power Market. |
| Commercializing A New Solar Technology | John Paul and Nicolas Morgan | Co-Founders of Morgan Solar Inc. | Dec 2010 |
Morgan Solar Inc. was founded in 2007 by brothers John Paul and Nicolas Morgan, with angel investment from their father, an experienced CEO in the field of global management consulting and information technology. In 2006, John Paul began to prototype Morgan Solar’s Light-Guide Solar Optic – a novel way of capturing, directing, and concentrating sunlight. Soon after, Nicolas left his position as Business Development Manager at Fon Technologies, a Web 2.0 start-up in Spain, to join the company full-time. The Light-Guide is the fundamental technology behind Morgan Solar’s Sun Simba concentrating solar panel, which is set for commercial launch in late 2011. |
| Centrosolar’s Expansion into North America | Deep Chakraborty | Centrosolar | Dec 2010 |
Mr. Deep Chakraborty currently CEO of Centrosolar America, Inc. since January 2010, was until recently Vice President of the parent Group in Munich, Germany. At Centrosolar, Deep has focused on a fast ramp-up of the US business: launching Centrosolar-branded products, growing the sales and engineering organization and launching a systems-based approach to Centrosolar's product offering in the North American market. |
| Case Study: The Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA) Solar Centre | Information provided by Kyocera & DKA Solar Centre | Dec 2010 |
Alice Springs, Australia, with around 300 days of sunshine every year, is an ideal test location for solar power installations. The Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA) Solar Centre is a government-funded public showcase of solar installations, demonstrating a range of solar power technologies from many of the world's leading manufacturers. | |
| Case Study: Silverback Solar & The Pressroom Denver. Colorado | Silverback Solar | Dec 2010 |
The pressroom is a concrete building built in the late 1970's. The roof was old and flat. A traditional ballasted mounting system, with its added weight, wasn't an option-- the old roof would have collapsed. Mark Stahl the operations manager of Astralux Power needed a different kind of a solution. | |
| Back Up For Solar Hot Water System An Over Looked Area | Larry Schlussler PhD | Sun Frost | Dec 2010 |
Often over looked is the significant effect a back up system can have on the overall performance of a solar hot water system. In a recent letter sent to Solar Industry Magazine I point out some design considerations. |
| 3 Dimensional Solar Cells | Jim Nelson | Solar3D, Inc. | Dec 2010 |
Solar3D, Inc. is developing a breakthrough 3-dimensional solar cell technology to maximize the conversion of sunlight into electricity. Up to 30% of incident sunlight is currently reflected off the surface of conventional solar cells, and more is lost inside the solar cell materials. Inspired by light management techniques used in fiber optic devices, Solar3D's innovative solar cell technology utilizes a 3-dimensional design to trap sunlight inside micro-photovoltaic structures where photons bounce around until they are converted into electrons |
| 10 Things to Know When Developing Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Systems | Chris Young | Enfinity | Dec 2010 |
It is critical to understand the many complexities specific to rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) development. Successful execution and delivery of expected returns requires careful management of the complex route to rooftop solar PV development. |
| Worst Solar Excuses | Reginald A. Norris | Clean Energy Experts | Oct 2010 |
Experts have talked to a number of our friends and other colleagues about solar power, we’ve been hearing a lot of the same excuses for not going solar. |
| tenKsolar PV Technology | Joel Cannon | tenKsolar | Oct 2010 |
tenKsolar designs, manufactures and markets unique photovoltaic systems which provide the highest kilowatt hour production per unit area at the lowest cost per kilowatt hour. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, tenKsolar has announced its RAIS™ Wave system which combines PV modules, reflectors and racking configured in a repeating wave pattern to provide the highest density energy producing system for flat roof or ground mount systems. |
| Solar Pricing At Historical Lows | David Brands | Clary Solar | Oct 2010 |
Last January saw solar panel pricing hit historical lows worldwide. As a result and despite the economy, the solar photovoltaic industry is having a pretty good year both at the commercial and residential levels. |
| Solar Parking Structures | Laurence Mackler | Solaire Generation, Inc | Oct 2010 |
Solaire’s mission is to dramatically increase the use of solar power by providing a mounting canopy for every commercial solar parking lot. Our goal is to revolutionize the solar parking installation market and minimize its environmental impact through our product line, which delivers Architecturally Integrated Renewable Energy. |
| Solar Air Heating That Makes Sense | WSE Technologies | Oct 2010 |
Air transfer makes solar thermal power more reliable than ever. | |
| Preparing for a Solar Site Visit | Reginald A. Norris | Clean Energy Experts | Oct 2010 |
One of the standard stages when considering solar for your home is the solar site visit. This involves a solar installer coming out to your home and inspecting your roof for the potential installation of a home solar system. |
| Parabolic Solar Trough Technology | Rick LeBlanc | SkyFuel | Oct 2010 |
SkyFuel, Inc. is a solar thermal power technology and service provider founded in 2007. SkyFuel solar collectors harness solar radiation to produce steam for electricity generation and industrial applications. The Company is a leading supplier of utility-scale concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. SkyFuel currently offers an advanced, glass-free parabolic trough solar thermal collector, called the SkyTrough®. It is the highest performance, lowest-cost utility-scale solar power system in the world. |
| Ontario Building Momentum in Solar Installation | Simon Hall | Oct 2010 |
By 2011, Ontario’s solar PV capacity could run as high as 250 MW. The Ontario Power Authority had 486 MW contracted at the end of 2009, which, if fulfilled this year, could make Ontario the largest market in North America for solar PV installation and training in 2010. | |
| MISSISSIPPI: “Down on the Farm Solar” Feeds Energy-Hungry Poultry Farms | Terri Steele | American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour | Oct 2010 |
The appetite for solar in America’s southeast is growing. On October 2, 2010, Mississippi Solar’s Will and Carolyn Hegman are serving up some mouth-watering, cost-effective ideas to feed that hunger during their second Annual “Down on the Farm” solar tour. The tour is part of the non-profit American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour, the world’s largest grassroots solar event. Over 646 tours are taking place across 48 states, with more coming online each week. |
| Microinverter Advantages | Raghu Belur | Enphase | Oct 2010 |
The Enphase Microinverter System is the first and only commercially available microinverter system. It integrates state-of-the-art microinverter technology, power-line communications and web-based monitoring and analytics to define a completely new class of advanced solar energy solutions. |
| Is Ontario’s Solar Sector Growing too Fast ? | A. Keranovic | The Solar Gazette | Oct 2010 |
What Solar Energy Developers Need to Know |
| Interview With SolarCity | Nina Oestilien | Solar City | Oct 2010 |
SolarCity is the nation's leading full-service solar provider for homeowners, businesses and government organizations—the first company to provide solar power system design, financing, installation and monitoring services from a single source. |
| University Research Teaching Tools and Portable Research Lab | David Cooke | TRUE-NORTH | Aug 2010 |
St Clair County Community College in Port Huron Michigan becomes the first American college to take delivery of the new Research PowerCube, possibly the most advanced wind and solar research tool available anywhere. |
| Solar Energy Conversion Process: Light and Heat | Jawad Ahmad | Renewable energy sources | Aug 2010 |
Photon Enhanced Thermionic Emission or PETE, simultaneously combines the heat and light from solar radiation to create electricity. Traditional solar panels utilize photovoltaic technology, which is flawed in that it decreases in efficiency as temperature rises. This is an obvious problem, seeing as the sun produces both light and heat. The new process of PETE, actually increases efficiency of the panels as the heat index increases. |
| Sigh of Relief from Solar Stakeholders | Austin Brentley | Ontario Solar News | Aug 2010 |
You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief on August 13 when the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) announced that its proposed price reduction to the solar microFIT program would not be as far-reaching as originally believed. |
| Sanyo Canopies Create New Solar Vernacular For Architects, Building Owners & Hoteliers | Terri Steele | INMAN SOLAR | Aug 2010 |
Design Flexibility and Superior Energy Output of SANYO’s Bi-facial HIT® Double Modules Provide Architects & Building Owners More Solar Design Options and Increased Revenue Potential |
| Low-cost and high performance heliostats | Juan Pablo Cabanillas, Carlos García | Titan Tracker | Aug 2010 |
Heliostats are the component with the greatest impact on the cost in solar tower CSP installations, assuming 50% of the total investment. In the last years, there have been serious attempts to reduce cost by relaxing some features. The TITAN TRACKER concept achieves the goal of reducing cost offering higher performance than the rest of heliostats. |
| First Drain Meander Project | Kemal Ibis | Solimpeks Solar Energy Corp | Aug 2010 |
Solimpeks, Turkey's largest thermal and hybrid collector manufacturer, recently implemented a drain meander system in the city of Izmir successfully. |
| European Solar Photovoltaic Market Faces Instability for Next Five Years | Solarbuzz | Aug 2010 |
The pace of the European solar photovoltaic (PV) market in the first half of 2010 was dominated by the impending mid-year incentive tariff reductions in Germany and conditioned by the lower module pricing that emerged through 2009, according to the latest from Solarbuzz® in Europe PV Markets 2010. | |
| Case Study - Missouri Department of Transportation St. Clair Maintenance Facility | Daniel Poett | G2Power Technologies, LLC | Aug 2010 |
Missouri Department of Transportation St. Clair Maintenance Facility installation of 48 SolarSheats Solar air panels deployed on two structures (one with eight and one with 40) and two solar hot water systems each using four 4' x 8' flat plate collectors both on the same structure (one for a car wash and the other for domestic hot water). |
| Altenergymag Interview With Tom Mealey Of Virtual Industries, Inc. | Tom Mealey | Virtual Industries, Inc. | Aug 2010 |
For more than 20 years, Virtual Industries has been a leading supplier of manual vacuum handling solutions to the world’s top technology firms. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, the US-based company provides an extensive and innovative range of hand-based operator tools, and focuses on being in tune with the industry sectors it supports and the customers within them. |
| AltEnergyMag Interview - Solar System Safety | Brent Harris | Sustainable Energy Technologies | Aug 2010 |
Brent Harris, P.Eng, is CTO of Sustainable Energy Technologies, and a co-founder of the company. He led the development and commercialization of the company's technologies, from early demonstrations to the launch of its latest Sunergy inverters. Mr. Harris has a passion for decentralized energy in general and for solar power in particular. He is an active proponent of changes to the management and regulation of our electric system that will enable greater adoption of decentralized and renewable energy technologies. Mr. Harris is a member of the board and treasurer of WADE Canada, and was a member of the board of directors of the Canadian Solar Industries Association from 2005-2008. |
| Altenergymag Interview - Risk Management in the PPA Marketplace | Mike Smith | SolarInsure | Aug 2010 |
Solar Insure is a California owned Independent insurance brokerage dedicated to providing our clients with the highest quality professional risk management & insurance services, while delivering competitively priced alternative energy insurance products. |
| Altenergymag Interview - PV Product Distribution | Wayne Wagner | Krayden, Inc. | Aug 2010 |
Krayden, Inc. offers numerous solutions for the solar energy industry. As an authorized distributor of leading manufacturers serving the photovoltaic market, including Dow Corning, Henkel Loctite, 3M, Humiseal, FCT Assembly, Lord, and Cytec, and others the company is able to supply a full line of coatings, tapes, PV sealants, conductive Inks, PV adhesives, lead-free solder, and PV potting agents. Here we catch up with Wayne Wagner, Krayden, Inc.’s president, to see how the company’s PV side of the business is growing. |
| Training in Solar System Installation | Gene Schlesinger | Solar Training School | Jun 2010 |
There are several options available for solar energy education ranging from 1 day introduction courses through 2 year degree programs. There are community college programs, trade schools, courses offered by not for profit organizations and associations, manufacture product training and e-learning or online courses. |
| The US Solar PV Market Analysis Policies and Incentives, Industry Trends and Forecasts to 2015 | Sushmita Chaudhuri | GlobalData | Jun 2010 |
GlobalData’s report “The US Solar PV Market Analysis Policies and Incentives, Industry Trends and Forecasts to 2015” gives an in-depth analysis of the US Solar PV market and provides forecasts up to 2015. The research analyzes the key trends, major issues and growth opportunities in the US Solar PV market. |
| Solar Power Combiners | Mitch Schoch | Bentek Solar | Jun 2010 |
Founded in 1985, Bentek is a leader in manufacturing and engineering solutions for complex electro-mechanical and power distribution systems for the semiconductor and solar industries. Bentek has applied these extensive capabilities and knowledge into a comprehensive family of standard and configure-to-order (CTO) solar combiner products. These solar combiners provide quality, ease of installation and safety to the solar industry. Here President and CEO Mitch Schoch explains why Bentek Solar is an innovative leader in the solar industry. |
| Solar Federal Buildings Program | Harvey Sherback | Jun 2010 |
Why aren't more Federal Buildings covered with solar panels? | |
| Project Showcase - Montana's Biggest Grid-tie PV System | Chris Daum | Oasis Montana Inc | Jun 2010 |
We asked some of the Dealer / Integrators in our company directory to send us examples of projects they have completed so we could share them. If you have one you'd like to submit please email news@altenergymag.com and we'll send you a template to use so we can publish it here. |
| Home Build Solar System | Hans Maas | How to Build a Solar System | Jun 2010 |
I wanted to build my own solar system and I can tell you now it’s possible with materials bought local in DIY shops and easy to obtain parts from the Internet. No I’m not a technical wonder and I don’t have lots of experience working with electricity, I just looked around and taught myself how solar panels are made, how other might have done it and made out of this a workable plan of how I could do it. |
| Case Study - Western Reserve Wind Project | Scot Loveland | TCT Renewable Energy | Jun 2010 |
The leadership of Western Reserve Local Schools should be applauded for installing a wind project that allows them to be fiscally responsible, climatically aware and educationally adaptive. |
| What Building Owners Need to Know Before Going Solar | Jen Lynch | Shorey Public Relations | Apr 2010 |
If you are a building owner that is considering a solar panel installation, there are several questions you should ask before signing any contracts. What is the best mounting method for installation on my rooftop? Do I need a new warranty to protect myself from any damage? Which type of system will give me the best ROI? Do I work with my old roofing company or do I need to find a structural engineer? |
| The use of thermal solar energy in Brazil | Café Carlos Faria | Studio Equinocio | Apr 2010 |
The market for solar water heating in Brazil is growing and consolidating in recent years. In 2009, the first estimate of the solar industry is that has been installed more than 771 thousand square meters of solar collectors, accumulating a total area of 5.2 million square meters. |
| The Solar Industry: Where it has been, where it is now and where it has to go | Peter Lynch | Sun Series | Apr 2010 |
The average solar stock has moved up 124% since March 9th 2009 and the average gain for just the 8 Chinese based public solar companies ( CSIG,CSUN,JASO,LDK,SOLF,STP,TSL,YGE ) was an amazing 267.96% ! |
| The Promise and Pitfalls of “Solar as a Service” | Aaron Chew | SustainableWorks NYC | Apr 2010 |
By offering a means to install a solar power system without the initial capital, Power Purchase Agreements could be the Holy Grail for mass market adoption of solar. After being a major driver of solar installations over the last couple years, however, a number of obstacles still stand in their way. What makes these instruments so attractive? |
| Solar Hybrid Collectors | Joop Hoek | Solimpeks | Apr 2010 |
PV-T, which is hybrid Photovoltaic and Thermal collector, production of both electricity and hot water is done simultaneously. The PV module’s heat is absorbed to produce hot water so that PV efficiency can be optimized as the heat is transferred into fluid to produce hot water. |
| Power Optimization Approaches for Trouble-free Project Execution and Superior System Performance | Brent Harris | Sustainable Energy Technologies | Apr 2010 |
As photovoltaic technology increasingly penetrates mainstream markets rooftop solar PV system integration based on series configured arrays are becoming antiquated due to new system design architectures enabled by new inverter technologies. |
| How Improvements in Thin-Film Silicon PV Will Keep it Alive in the Marketplace | Robert Nolan | NanoMarkets, LC | Apr 2010 |
Thin-film silicon uses about one-hundredth the amount of silicon used by crystalline silicon PV but now that the silicon shortage is over what will keep TF Si'c current 43% market share from dropping? |
| Canadian-designed Battery Backup System Maximizes Solar Power | Christine Thompson and Douglas Caldwell for | Schneider Electric | Apr 2010 |
Douglas Caldwell’s AC micro grid for his home, is a sleek combination of Sanyo HIT solar panels, Enphase micro-inverters and a Schneider Electric Xantrex XW Series battery backup system, which provides uninterrupted power for occasions when the grid is down. |
| AltEnergyMag Interview -Thermal and Hybrid Solar Collectors | Johannes Hoek | Solimpeks Corp | Apr 2010 |
With the Volther Solar hybrid collector, production of both electricity and hot water is done simultaneously. In PV modules, as the module temperature increases, the efficiency of the module drops down. In hybrid modules, the module heat is absorbed in order to produce hot water. In this way, PV efficiency is optimized as the heat is transferred into water for hot water production. |
| Solar Repowering | Juan Pablo Cabanillas | Titan Tracker | Feb 2010 |
REPOWERING, in general, can be defined as the set of changes aimed at increasing the power and therefore also increase the energy yield. The convenience of the repowering is in the benefits of technological modernization, which provides solutions for higher power and performance as the technology matures. |
| The Promise of Solar Power Has Roots Deep in the Space Program | Nick Lampson | Coalition for Space Exploration | Dec 2009 |
With Presidential direction and Congressional support, NASA’s wellspring of talent could help foster the creation of solar power satellites – spacecraft that circle the Earth and beam the energy they generate down to the ground for distribution as electricity. |
| The Next Generation of PV System Ownership: Moving from Passive Monitoring to Active Management | Sjuli Beekhuis | Tigo Energy Inc. | Dec 2009 |
This article reviews the recent history of PV monitoring; the shift from single-meter systems to module-level control using highly reliable electronics, and future direction of the industry towards active system management from utility-scale solar farms down to the residential PV system. |
| The Italian PV market to grow to 15 GigaWatt | Federico Brucciani | Solar Plaza | Dec 2009 |
Interview with Federico Brucciani, independent solar PV expert and author of the report "The Italian PV market". Brucciani is very optimistic about market growth in his country. He says that grid-parity will be reached in all market segments within the next 6 to 8 years. He adds that the market is becoming more sustainable than in Spain and that a new and appealing FiT program can be expected as a follow up to the current program, which has met with so much success. |
| Solar on a Stick: Bringing Solar to the Sun | Peter Henry | Energy Concepts | Dec 2009 |
One solar PV innovation has largely flown under the radar: pole mounted solar electric panels. That is, mounting solar PV panels on a steel pole anchored in cement, fully capable of adjusting to daily and seasonal sun positions. |
| Solar Industry Growing; Obstacles Remain Poll Says | Sebastian Goeres And Brian Hall | Droege & Comp, Gibbs & Soell | Dec 2009 |
According to a new poll from Droege & Comp. and Gibbs & Soell, U.S. Solar businesses are poised for strong growth in 2010 and significant growth in 2011. However, respondents indicate that obstacles still remain. Favorable legislation, customer knowledge and heightened marketing will be keys to the expansion of their business. Participants included nearly 100 professionals representing key areas of the solar business value chain. Results from the 2009 Solar Industry Monitor were unveiled at the 2009 Solar Power International Show in Anaheim, Calif. |
| Interview - Using Hard Disk Technology to Manufacture Solar Cells | Tom Djokovich | XsunX, Inc | Dec 2009 |
XsunX is combining its thin-film photovoltaic (TFPV) process knowledge and processes with magnetic media thin-film manufacturing technologies used by the hard disc drive industry to mass produce high efficiency, low cost solar cells. Current techniques for the production of CIGS thin-films do not leverage stationary small area, high rate, production technologies which allow for the precise control of thin-film properties. |
| Interview - The Korean PV Market | Kyung Nam Kim | Solarplaza | Dec 2009 |
Solar PV expert and consultant Kyung Nam Kim, author of the report “The Korean PV Market”, is optimistic about his country’s solar future. His report provides a unique and comprehensive overview of Korea’s PV market and industry, and it is available in English. It includes a detailed description of the market situation, forecasts, regulatory procedures, and a detailed overview of Korea’s PV supply chain. |
| Interview - Solar Industry Mergers and Acquisitions | Jack Calderon | Lincoln International | Dec 2009 |
Jack leads Lincoln International's global Electronics and Solar Energy Group which includes Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS), Controls, Interconnects, Power Electronics and Solar Energy. Jack is an expert in the electronics industry. He spent 20 years in various operating management positions in the industry, beginning with Honeywell and culminating as CEO of publicly traded EFTC (now part of Suntron). Jack is a frequent speaker at industry events and oversees Lincoln’s publications in the EMS, Power and Solar Energy industries. |
| How To Make A Homemade Solar Light in a Jar | Anna Vera Williams | FindPortableSolarPower.com | Dec 2009 |
Constructing a solar-powered light in a jar is a great project to do with kids. It can be done at home, or in a classroom, with simple materials, and will serve to give them a good understanding of how solar energy is used. |
| The Solar Power Paradox: Alternative Energy Can’t Run on Oil | Stan Levy And David Lee | BioSolar | Oct 2009 |
As the PV business continues to grow, new backsheet constructions are continually being introduced. But the products we use in our efforts to be more sustainable have a bigger footprint than we think. Currently, there are at least ten commercial manufacturers of traditional PV backsheets, with traditional products in the development stage. Traditional backsheets, the protective covering on solar cells, are produced mainly from polyester and Tedlar films. Polyester is made from petroleum and Tedlar is solvent-cast using DMAC, a highly toxic industrial solvent. Both of these products defeat the purpose of clean, green energy, and as the demand for solar energy increases, so does this issue. |
| GREEN JOBS PLATFORM FOR SOLAR | Jun 2009 |
Over the past 10 years, Sheila Davis has played a valuable role at SVTC and in shaping environmental policy in the high-tech industry. She is one of the co-founders of the Computer TakeBack Campaign and sits on its steering committee. In 1996 she researched and developed the first electronic recycling legislation to reach the California Governor's desk and in 1999 spearheaded the first pilot programs in the country to collect and recycle electronic waste from the residential curbside. | ||
| THE FUTURE OF EVACUATED TUBE TECHNOLOGY | Michael Humphreys | Apricus | Feb 2009 |
The media, policymakers and even those in the industry have let evacuated tubes languish as a mere cousin to solar electric. |
| PICKING THE RIGHT SOLAR INSTALLER | Aaron Hall | Borrego Solar | Feb 2009 |
Federal and state rebates can save you as much as 50% on your total cost, so it is important the company is taking every advantage of available rebates. |
| INDIA - A LONG RACE IN SOLAR POWER | Jaideep Malayvia | SolarPlaza | Feb 2009 |
India, the world's second-most populous country, is facing a looming energy crisis. Soaring oil prices, and continued dependence on a few countries for oil, has led to the use of renewable energy sources to secure energy. |
| GROWTH IN SPANISH SOLAR ENERGY MARKET | Edwin Koot | SolarPlaza | Feb 2009 |
In 2007, and during the first half of 2008, all the signs for PV were positive. There was a very attractive feed-in tariff in Spain, credit lines were easy to get, oil prices were rising and economies growing rapidly. Now, the industry faces a strong head wind with oil prices very low, economies in recession, finance hard to obtain and the world's largest market regulated by a cap with a 30% lower feed-in tariff. |
| 5 PRACTICAL SOLAR APPLICATIONS | Renee Macalino Rutledge | CalFinder Solar Contractors | Oct 2008 |
You've got some money saved and going solar crossed your mind. But you'd rather have new floors or walls, or invest in the little addition you always wanted. Why not do both? |
| THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS HEADING FOR $1 PER WP | Rijkert Knoppers | Solar Plaza | Aug 2008 |
Thin-film solar cells are cheaper than traditional solar panels, such as those made of polycrystalline silicon, but the yield is lower. However, the combination of these properties is promising according to the Thin-Film Future conference organized recently by SolarPlaza in Munich. An impression of the heavily attended gathering. |
| EarthToys Interview - The Andalay PV Solar Panel System | Dirk Hosmer | Akeena Solar | Jun 2008 |
Homeowners get a solar system that looks great and performs well—and one that installs quicker and easier than anything else on the market. Since the installation crew spends less time up on the roof and makes about 25 percent less rooftop penetrations, there is less wear and tear on a roof. |
| Increase In Installed Wind Capacity Places Spotlight On Wind Service Market | Gouri Nambudripad | Energy and Power Systems Group at Frost & Sullivan | Apr 2008 |
The recent growth in installed capacity along with the expiration of service contracts and the changing characteristic of project owners is pushing the wind service market forward. |
| Solar Power for Your Home | Smarthome.com | Smarthome.com | Jun 2007 |
Whether you're a do-it-yourselfer or a couch potato, solar-powered devices offer a myriad of options. For those just wanting to get their feet wet with solar power, many devices require little to no effort to setup. |
| Solar: The No-Risk Path to Wealth Creation | Michael Vickerman | RENEW Wisconsin | Apr 2007 |
While all investments pose some degree of risk, the return on a solar energy system is about as safe and predictable as, well, the rising sun. Fortunately for the Earth and its varied inhabitants, the center of our solar system is situated well beyond the reach of humanity's capacity to tamper with a good thing. |
| Hydrogen Production Technology ― Light-Powered Generation | Donald Moore | Phoenix International Energy Inc | Feb 2007 |
Phoenix funding is employed in the basic photoelectrochemical design of innovative, complex "molecular machines" that can split water into its hydrogen and oxygen components by harnessing energy sourced from the complete solar light spectrum. |
| Preserve the Batteries in your Storage Bank | Tom Woods | Apr 2006 |
If you have a solar installation and you use batteries connected to a load, it doesn't take long to learn you have a real problem on your hands because there just isn't enough solar energy to keep the batteries charged during those long dark cloudy periods. | |
| Solar Energy Potential At Different Latitudes | Gerardo R. Ayala González | Productos A-Chá | Aug 2005 |
I was surprised to see that, in Germany, where they receive a fewer amount of energy with respect to other countries, by the end of 2003 had clearly invested more in solar panels than many other countries which get more solar energy than them. |
| Performance Standards For Solar Modules And Collectors - Why They Are Important? | Rob McMonagle & Marc Rydel | ICP Solar | Aug 2005 |
Guidelines and standards provide a level playing field for all parties. Retailers, purchasing agencies and consumers must be able to evaluate the merits of solar devices based on a common set of industry-approved standards if we hope to achieve broad market penetration. |
| Tips On Buying And Installing Your Solar Electrical System | Adi Pieper | ADI Solar Electric | Apr 2005 |
Going solar is a fundamental decision. It is not just about saving some money in the long run. It is a lifestyle. Although the solar industry has come a long way and is now very well developed, it is still in an experimental stage. |
| No Apologies | Obert Reslock | Apr 2005 |
"Renewable energy works; it is as reliable as the sunrise; it will help us keep our planet habitable; and it's an excellent, cost-effective investment to make; NOW." | |
| There Is No Global Fresh Water Issue | Jan de Koning | Zonnewater | Dec 2004 |
Zonnewater developed a desalination unit based on solar energy (95% thermal and 5% photovoltaic or wind energy), suited for coastal areas with an average temperature of 30 degrees Celsius. The prototype is a small one cubic meter greenhouse-type construction that produces 40 litres of water per day. |
| Beginner's Guide To Solar And Wind Energy | Alternative Energy Store | Alternative Energy Store | Feb 2004 |
The question is why are you interested in using solar or wind energy? Is it because you need some back-up electricity for when the utility grid is unavailable? Or is it because you want to spend less money per month on electricity? |
| Sustainability At Home | Frank Tettemer & Cheryl Keetch | Living Sol | Aug 2003 |
Living with an 'ecological consciousness' is the way of connecting with the life-giving energy of the earth and understanding that our soul and the earth are one in the same. |
| Beginner's Guide To Solar And Wind Energy | Alternative Energy Store | Alternative Energy Store | Feb 2003 |
The question is why are you interested in using solar or wind energy? Is it because you need some back-up electricity for when the utility grid is unavailable? Or is it because you want to spend less money per month on electricity? |
