Butte College in Oroville, California is now the largest solar-producing campus in the state after revealing three new solar projects that will allow the campus to become carbon neutral by 2015. The college, which hopes to save US$32.6 million in 20 years from reduced energy costs and a fixed energy-use fee, is currently 44% solar powered after installing the new energy-capturing panels.
NV Energy, Inc. and Solar Millennium, LLC have agreed on a memorandum of understanding for the potential installation of possible solar power facilities in southern Nevada. This agreement is in conjunction with Solar Millennium’s joint venture partner, MAN Ferrostaal Inc.
An in-depth study of the concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) market conducted by the University of Jaen (Spain) and CPV Today has revealed that grid parity could be on the cards for the technology as soon as 2011. Focussing on areas of high irradiance, the study has stated that efficiency increases in cells and optics will be necessary to allow for this target to be reached so soon.
Energy Innovations has announced that its RayTracker product group has been spun off to form RayTracker Inc. The new company will allow the team to take advantage of the growing demand for its RayTracker GC product line. The GC line was made to be cost-effective while boasting high efficiency and reliability. RayTracker had been included in over 2MW of installations in 2008.
Craig Hunter, former general manager and founder of the thin-film solar business at Applied Materials, Inc. has joined Intermolecular, Inc. as vice president and general manager of solar business.
Evergreen Solar, Inc., developers and marketers of the low-cost silicon wafer manufacturing technology String Ribbon solar power products, has announced high ratings in two significant performance tests.
Independent renewable power producer Fotowatio has acquired the core U.S. solar power assets of MMA Renewable Ventures, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC. MMA became well known for its 14MW PV installation at Nellis Air Force base. Upon completion of the deal, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures will be one of the largest solar development companies in the United States.
Loss making concentrating photovoltaic and thermal (CPVT) technology firm, Entech Solar has initiated a workforce reduction of approximately 40% (33 employees) in an effort to reduce losses and preserve cash. Entech plans to close its California locations by mid-2009 and has also stopped using a number of consultants, the company said.
A 16-year veteran of the renewable energy industry, Jean M. Wilson has joined the SunPower team as Vice President and General Manager of the company’s utilities and power plants. This new role will include running SunPower's North American utility and power plant division, supervision of all project development and overseeing utility and Independent Power Producer partnerships, as well as marketing, EPC and component sales.
One of the earliest of potential customers of Applied Materials ‘SunFab’ thin film production lines, looks close to securing the necessary funding that would see it establish the first of three planned production facilities. Genesis Solar, a subsidiary of Genesis Energy Investment Plc has recently announced that it has a Letter of Intent from an unidentified U.S. investor to inject US$42 million into its Spanish subsidiary, Genesis Solar España S.L., which has a partially completed production facility designed to house Applied’s ‘SunFab’ thin film line in El Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz, Spain.
