Solar Power World

Project Review: The Home of the Future is Here Now

Nexus EnergyHomes builds net-zero homes available at market price Imagine opening your mailbox and never seeing another electric bill. This may seem like a dream for the future, but with today’s technology it’s actually possible to build houses that produce as much power as they generate. “Net-zero” homes have made headlines here and there, but at such high prices they are... Read More

From The Field: Of Mug-Me Badges, Session Attendance And More

DENVER: The first time I heard the term “mug-me” badges, I was a 25-year old trade editor attending a trade show in New York. I left the Jacob K. Javits Center still wearing my show badge. My editor at the time, a kindly gentleman whose only goal was to keep me alive, tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Take your badge off. If you don’t, you look like a... Read More

Eclipsall To Supply 3-MW to Uganda

Eclipsall Energy Corp. has agreed to supply 3MW of solar modules to the Government of Uganda, Ministry of Health. The solar modules will be used for planned solar projects on 100 medical clinics throughout the Republic of Uganda. The medical clinics are located largely in remote areas of the country. The installations will include both grid tied and off-grid photovoltaic systems... Read More

From The Field: Turn Right At The Big Blue Bear

“Turn right at the Big Blue Bear.” Those are the first words that greet you as you exit the parking garage at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver, where I am attending the World Renewable Energy Forum this week. Sure enough, as you walk down 14th St. to get to the front entrance of the facility, there is a 40-foot Blue Bear with its nose pressed up against... Read More

Report Recommends Changing Solar Standards for Ground Mounts

The Solar America Board for Codes and Standards (Solar ABCs) has released a final report, “Grounding Photovoltaic Modules: Issues and Recommendations,” which draws on feedback from solar industry experts as well as ongoing research at Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) and presents the issues with recommendations for changes to existing standards. The need for this study was... Read More

Silicon Energy Selects Motech Americas as Exclusive Supplier

Silicon Energy, a manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems made in Marysville, Washington and Mountain Iron, Minnesota, has selected Motech Americas, a manufacturer of solar modules, as its exclusive supplier of solar panels. The Solar modules have been manufactured at Motech’s Newark site for over 20 years. Under the terms of the agreement Motech will work to support Silicon... Read More

Calling All Clean-Tech Execs

The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association announced today the creation of the Cleantech Fellows Institute (CFI), an intensive, 17-week executive training program to create near-term venture backable companies in cleantech. The fellows program is the first of its kind with a national focus. Selected executives from across the nation will join the program. Targeted executives... Read More

50th Anniversary of Telstar Satellite Launch: A Milestones Solar Pioneering

Only two months to the 50th anniversary of the launch of the solar-powered Telstar satellite, which christened the modern media era by transmitting the first intercontinental television broadcasts. Launched July 10, 1962, amid the accelerating Cold War space race and powered by 3,600 solar cells, the Telstar was a U.S. engineering triumph and a world sensation. The satellite subsequently... Read More

Westinghouse Solar and CBD Energy Sign Definitive Merger Agreement

Westinghouse Solar, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of integrated rooftop solar power systems, and CBD Energy Ltd. have signed a definitive merger agreement. The merger has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and consummation is targeted for third quarter 2012, subject to satisfaction of limited closing conditions and approval by both companies’ shareholders. The... Read More

An Education in Energy Efficiency

The Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) has launched MyEnergyGateway.org , which it says will provide  information on available training programs, degrees and certifications that focus on energy efficiency, sustainability, green and alternative energy, as well as energy engineering, green building design and other disciplines. Geared to students, returning military... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Solar Expos Combine To Create Global Solar Alliance

Solarexpo (Italy), SNEC PV Power Expo (China) and Solar Power International (U.S.) today reached an agreement for the creation of the Global Solar Alliance (GSA), an non-profit initiative creating a global network of trade events and technical-scientific conferences for the worldwide development of the solar industry and markets, spreading awareness and information among the professional... Read More

Delta Products Corporation Partners with AEE Solar

AEE Solar has partnered with Delta Energy Systems to become an authorized dealer of its Solivia high-frequency residential solar inverters. The Solivia NA residential string inverter has high-frequency transformers, output power of 2.5 kW to 5.0 kW, and a free monitoring system. “As an experienced solar distributor with a reputation for offering the best solar products in... Read More

Panel Manufacturer Provides Financing Options for Businesses

Solar module manufacturer Kyocera Solar, Inc. now provides loan and lease options to consumers seeking light commercial and mid-to-large commercial installations. In partnership with De Lage Landen Financial Services, Inc. (DLL), Kyocera Solar Finance will offer up to 100 percent financing for qualified borrowers. The company said the financing can cover up to the total solar project... Read More

Scalable Solar For The Indian Market

Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. has partnered with Bergen Group to better service the high-growth Indian photovoltaic (PV) market. The first project under this partnership is a 1-MW ground-mount array, which has already been commissioned in Kalanaur, in the state of Haryana, India. “We are excited to be working with AE Solar Energy and look forward to bringing the company’s... Read More

Finally, We Have Bipartisan Support

In some of my past show recaps, you’ll sense my frustration with the dissent between parties over renewable energy decisions—particularly the PTC. One former member of FERC noted at a recent wind event that Democrats and Republicans used to agree on clean-energy policy until, basically, Solyndra. Even though this was a horrible loss of tax payer dollars and a crisis for... Read More