Tag Archives: Solar
ITC prepares to Make Decision on Chinese Solar
Almost a year ago SolarWorld-backed Coalition for American Solar Manufacturers (CASM) filed trade complaints with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) alleging that Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers engaged in unfair trade practices designed to sell their modules at costs below market rates to capture marketshare. But another group, the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) has [...]
Can Vivint be the Biggest U.S Solar Installer in 2013?
Following on the heels of the announcement that Vivint would be purchased by Blackstone for more than $2 billion, Vivint has said it plans to install solar on at least 10,000 homes in 2013. That’s according to founder Todd Pederson, who discussed expansion plans with Bloomberg earlier this week. That’s up significantly from about [...]
What Happened to the Thin Film Solar Market?
There is no thin-film solar market. There’s First Solar with cadmium telluride (CdTe), Solar Frontier with CIGS, and until recently Sharp in amorphous silicon (a-Si), with a few smaller players following behind. There are also a few companies looking at very thin c-Si, such as Twin Creeks or 1366 Technologies. In cadmium telluride materials, [...]
Rhône Alpes of France Wins Solar Decathlon Europe 2012
Rhône Alpes of France won the second iteration of Solar Decathlon Europe in Madrid, Spain, this past Saturday. The team’s Canopea house won the international competition with a total score of 908.72 points. The home took top honors eking out Spanish team’s Andalucía Team’s Patio 2.12 house, which received 897.30 points in the contest. Solar [...]
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” [...]
MiaSolé: Aquired by Chinese Renewables Big Tuna
MiaSolé, the most technologically and commercially advanced VC-funded CIGS thin-film firm, just sold to China’s Hanergy for $30 million, according to documents sent to MiaSolé shareholders this week, obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle. The most prominent names in the VC business could not help make thin-film solar work. Nor could they sell the firm [...]
The 2012 National Solar Tour
Once a year solar owners across the US come together and allow the public to tour their homes, businesses and solar and energy efficient buildings. That time is now. And this year there’s an added bonus, a sweepstakes with nearly $4,000 in prizes! While officially the National Solar Tour takes place on Oct. 6, 2012, [...]
Georgia Power to Triple Solar Capacity
Georgia Power filed a request with the Public Service Commission (PSC) today in order to expand its solar energy capacity between now and 2015. The utility is looking to triple the amount of solar from 61 MW annually to 210 MW over a three-year period. This is an abrupt shift from Georgia Power’s previous position [...]
Sharp to Launch Windows That Double Up As Solar Panels
Japanese manufacturer Sharp this week announced the arrival of what it hopes will become a common money-saving building material. Its see-through solar panel, or window with built in solar capacity depending on which way you look at it (or indeed through it?) has been designed for use both as windows and balcony infill panels. The [...]