Written by Daniel H. Howson | 22 February 2012
Posted in Guest Blogs

China’s drive toward renewable energy has made tremendous progress in recent years. Between 2006 and 2010, imports of solar cells and modules from China to the US increased by over 1500%. The increased production of solar modules in China is a reflection of their Five Year Plan to access the renewable energy technology market.

16 February 2012
Posted in Guest Blogs

As all eyes in the solar industry are watching Germany right now as the country’s feed-in tariff changes are being negotiated, SolarWorld CEO, Frank Asbeck shares his views. In the following interview he gives reasons why solar energy makes sense from financial and environmental perspectives. He takes the position that capping PV in Germany would annihilate Germany’s pioneering position. And he responds to questions about the trade case against China, pointing out that much of the competition in the industry today is a result of the rules of German law that was imposed upon the with its step-by-step reduction of subsidies.

Written by Andreas Breyer | 13 February 2012
Posted in Editors Blogs

 

The current status of the Desertec program—and where it’s taking place is confusing. The industry consortium Dii has just communicated that the planning phase of the first reference project in Morocco is on schedule and the decision regarding the final location of the plant might even be made in the coming weeks. Then, it has to be decided whether PV or CSP technology is being installed to which extent, until energy production is expected to begin between 2014 and 2016. The reference project in which Dii acts as an enabler wants to demonstrate the export feasibility of solar generated electricity in the deserts to Europe, using existing lines between Spain and Morocco.

Written by Sydney Kaufman | 10 February 2012
Posted in Editors Blogs

Here at Solar Power Colorado, solar thermal was referred to as the sleeping giant of renewable energy.  That’s probably because, while solar PV efficiency currently tops out at about 20%, commercially available solar thermal efficiencies can be up to 80% efficient. 

Written by Sydney Kaufman | 09 February 2012
Posted in Editors Blogs

The costs one typically associates with solar power—the materials, panels, and inverters—are dropping, but at this year’s Solar Power Colorado conference, taking place 9-10 February in Loveland, Colorado (US), many eyes have turned to the hidden costs associated with solar and what can be done to lower them.

Written by Andy Biggs | 07 February 2012
Posted in Guest Blogs

Construction contractors and architectural design professionals should be positioning themselves now to take advantage of thin-film PV technology with the construction technique known as Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). The BIPV approach essentially replaces standard construction components with materials that incorporate a thin film of silicon to create a PV panel. Roofing materials are ideal components for BIPV substitution. Most building façades are good candidates for replacement, and window glass can now be fashioned with entirely transparent thin-film solar cells.

Written by Anne Fischer | 25 January 2012
Posted in Editors Blogs

US President Obama delivered a State of the Union message last night before a joint session of Congress in which solar energy was not immediately obvious, but it was there on the edges of the many key points he made in this election-year address:  the need to tear down regulations that prevent entrepreneurs from launching innovative new businesses, supporting research and the need for “American-made energy”.

Written by Tim Johnson | 18 January 2012
Posted in Guest Blogs

The National Electric Code (NEC) is officially published every three years. Yet, within only a few months after it is officially released, work begins within committees on figuring out what changes should be included in the next cycle.  One of the more than 400 proposals for NEC 2014 scheduled for review this week at a meeting of the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) is a proposal that would require that all solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems installed on buildings have an “auto-shutdown” capability.