Your daily dose of Photovoltaic Technology Developments and Solar News
Power Generation
Opinion
Top Stories 2008 – Power Generation – the good, the bad, and the efficiency
Several of the most popular stories in the Power Generation section of PV-Tech were related to research on new technologies for the improvement of cell efficiencies. A very recent report by Greentech Media on First Solar’s apparent achievement of grid parity created ripples throughout the industry. Mark Bachman, a senior research analyst with Pacific Crest, presented his aggregated numbers via the report that claimed that First Solar has indeed reached the grid parity mecca.
News
SunEdison, Developers Diversifed Realty partner on large-scale solar distributed generation program
SunEdison and Developers Diversified Realty have embarked on what is being called the largest solar distributed generation program of its kind. The North American solar energy services provider has obtained the rights to deploy PV systems at more than 200 shopping centers developed and managed by the Cleveland-based real estate investment trust. The potential capacity of the program could run as high as 259 MW on locations in 24 states and Puerto Rico, covering up to an estimated 30 million square feet.
Long Island Power Authority expands Solar Pioneer program to US$14.4million
The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has reaffirmed its commitment to energy efficiency and renewable energy through the adoption of its 2009 operating budget. The budget provides incentives of up to US$14.4 million through ...
SunPower completes and dedicates Hawaii’s 1.2MW solar farm
Situated in south Lana'i, the recently completed La Ola 1.2MW solar farm is anticipated to provide close to 30% of the island’s peak energy needs. The 10-acre site, completed by Castle & Cooke Hawaii and SunPower Corporation, has been installed with a single-axis SunPower Tracker system, power generated by which will be purchased by Maui Electric Company (MECO).
Juwi completes 40MW Waldpolenz plant
The juwi group announced the completion of the Waldpolenz energy park in Brandis, in eastern Germany, ahead of schedule in December 2008. The 40MW plant has a surface area of more than 100 hectares and consists of over half a million thin-film modules supplied by First Solar. Juwi acted as general contractor, overseeing the site’s construction, planning and logistics management.
Toshiba enters photovoltaic systems integration market
Toshiba Corporation has announced plans to enter the solar photovoltaics market as a large scale utility and industrial systems integrator and components supplier. Toshiba has formed a dedicated business unit (Photovoltaic Systems Division) within its global Transmission Distribution & Industrial Systems Division. The company said that is would be targeting sales of approximately US$2.2 billion by fiscal year 2015, through its existing global sales channels.
1GW solar power plant planned in China
China Technology Development Group Corporation has signed an initial contract with the local government of Qinghai Haixi Mongolian-Tibetan Autonomous Region for the construction and operation of a 30MW on-grid solar power plant at a cost of US$150 million. Construction is expected to start sometime in 2009 and has a targeted capacity of 1GW, according to CTDC, without providing a timescale or further financial details of the ambitious and potentially the largest single PV based power plant in the world.
Featured Articles
First Edition: Current status of the concentrating photovoltaic power industry
By Sarah Kurtz, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, Colorado, USA
ABSTRACT
Today’s PV industry is growing at a rapid rate, but the industry would grow even faster if costs could be reduced for both the final products and the capital investment required for scale-up. One strategy for reducing module costs to reduce the amount of semiconductor material needed (the cost of the silicon solar cells typically comprises more than half of the module cost).
Product Briefings
Top 5 new product reviews of 2008
In our first full year online, we have steadily increased the number of new products we have reviewed and also seen the new products section gain increasingly greater traffic levels throughout the year. Looking through the traffic numbers, we have identified the Top 5 most popular reviews of new products for your enjoyment.
New Product: TITAN TRACKER designed for high accuracy zenithal tracking
Product Briefing Outline: The TITAN TRACKER 122-219 ATR PRECISION is a new concept in solar trackers and has been developed for flat-plate and high concentrating photovoltaics CPV). It breaks with the usual trend, based on mounted-pole systems, and is claimed to offer improved benefits during the whole life-cycle of the installation.
