Tool Order: Ascent Solar selects 8 roll-to-roll wet-chemical coating machines from STANGL - 18 August 2008
Suntech Power guides 2010 capacity target - 20 August 2008
Solarfun sets 2009 cell/module capacity ramp - 27 August 2008
First Solar to expand Ohio production site - 19 August 2008
While First Solar keeps on trucking, others in CdTe thin-film PV pack keep on muddling - 20 August 2008
Magma’s Oberai explains partnership with Pegasus to bring yield management software to solar PV fabs - 29 August 2008
DC Chemical wins 488 bln-won polysilicon order - 29 August 2008
Optony: where thin film and concentrating solar meet - 29 August 2008
LCD panel makers gear up thin-film solar deployment - 29 August 2008
Smit Ovens passes 2 Gigawatt peak milestone - 29 August 2008
Reports from the Euroscience Open Forum in Barcelona have once again focused on the potential of the Sahara desert region to produce ALL the electrical energy needs of Europe if a mass concentration of solar technology was to be established there.
Scientists estimate that at a cost of approximately €450 billion, electricity could be produced at 15 cents per kWh. A super DC current grid would connect the Sahara to Europe, reducing transmission losses significantly.
Although not a new plan, one wonders if Europe has the will and the way to ever see such a project through to reality. Perhaps the fact that such a project gets mainstream news coverage is good enough, as this can only boost public awareness.
However, PV projects on a local level will soon (2012-14) reach grid parity in many parts of Europe as the cost-per-watt reductions continue unabated. By then, such a grand scheme may be seen as too costly and not in the best interests of European countries.
Green energy independence rather than green energy dependence could still prove to be the most compelling reason for such a scheme remaining on the drawing board.
