Tag Archives: manufacturing
Japanese Solar Bubble: In The Cards?
It’s been a big year for global renewable energy development as Japan announced its intention to phase on nuclear energy and instead rely heavily on clean energy sources. Recent clean energy subsidies in the county sparked $2 billion in clean energy investments in just two months while the Japanese government predicts a “$640 billion spending boom” [...]
Catching up to the German Solar Machine
Germany only gets as much sunlight as Alaska, yet it is the largest solar market in the world. The cost of installing solar is much cheaper in Germany – up to 48% less at $3.08 per watt versus $5.90 per watt in the United States, according to recent data from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). [...]
In Focus: Dupont’s Solar Quality Standards
Solar installations were removed from twenty-four San Diego Unified School District campuses after corrosion was discovered that threatened the possibility of electrical issues that could lead to fires. The 4.3-megawatt installation was built in 2005-06 by Solar Integrated Technologies (SIT). SIT was acquired by Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) (PINK:ENERQ) in 2009. ECD’s Uni-Solar manufactured the [...]
Profiting from Solar Printing Technologies
Solar installations are rocketing worldwide as solar electricity becomes cheaper than electricity from fossil fuels – it’s already happened in 105 countries. This is the tipping point where economics takes over from altruism and solar PVbecomes a serious part of the global energy mix. The steady drop in cost-per-watt is great news for the end [...]
European Solar Dispute Against China Continues
Encouraged by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, it looks like the European Union (EU) is holding a dialogue aimed at resolving its solar trade dispute with China. The EU is threatening to impose tariffs on Chinese panel imports, echoing action taken by the US earlier this year. It moved to launch a formal investigation in early [...]
University of Albany Grabs $20M for Next-Gen PV Manufacturing Equipment
Under a new partnership with the U.S. Photovoltaic Consortium (PVMC) and Ceres Technologies the University of Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering’s Albany NanoTech Complex CNSE will work towards developing the next generation of PV manufacturing equipment. The $20 million is supported partly by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) SunShot Initiative. But it’s [...]
What Clean Energy Bubble?
There was a clever headline in the satirical newspaper The Onion last week that wouldn’t be so humorous if it wasn’t true. “300 Million Without Electricity In India After Restoration Of Power Grid,” the headline read. The article was referring to the massive power outage across India last Tuesday that cut electricity to 670 million [...]
Ascent Solar Lands Pilot Program at Foxconn
Ascent Solar, a thin-film manufacturer based in Thornton, Colo., has penned an agreement to provide solar panels to major electronics manufacturer Foxconn in China. The agreement is for a small pilot project, said Ascent president and CEO Victor Lee. Foxconn’s name will be printed in Ascent Solar’s CIGS thin-film solar photovoltaic panels across its canvas [...]
The World’s Lowest Emissions Building
One of Japan’s largest construction companies is making a bold claim. Shimuzu Corp. believes its new Tokyo headquarters emits less carbon dioxide per square meter than any other building in the world. Thanks to a myriad of energy efficiency technologies and renewable energy installations, the building (pictured below) uses only 38 kilograms per square meter [...]