Sharp aqcuires solar developer Recurrent Energy


6a00d834ac3e0669e201347fbcec8e970c 320wi 300x240 Sharp aqcuires solar developer Recurrent Energy

San Francisco based solar developer Recurrent Energy has just been acquired by Sharp Corporation, Japan’s largest solar manufacturer. The transaction was for $310 million in cash. Arno Harris CEO of Recurrent  will remain as CEO of the new Sharp subsidiary and report to Toshishige Hamano. “We’re thrilled to reach this agreement with Sharp, a company known for its technology,” said Arno Harris. The agreement will allow the two companies the opportunity  to become a total solutions provider in the photovoltaic field, extending from developing and producing solar cells and marketing power generation plants.

Recurrent Energy is the developer of San Francisco Sunset Reservoir’s five megawatts (MW) solar plant. With its 25,000 solar photovoltaic panel capability it is among the largest municipal solar projects in the United States. Recurrent Energy has driven rapid growth of its development pipeline, with over 330 MW of government 150x150 Sharp aqcuires solar developer Recurrent Energycontracted distributed-scale solar power projects including 170 MW with the Ontario Power Authority, 60 MW with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), and 50 MW with Southern California Edison, and announced projects and joint development agreements in Europe and the Middle East.

“We’ve enjoyed a tremendous partnership with the Recurrent Energy team and believe Sharp is the right partner to accelerate the growth of the business,” said Neil Auerbach, a Recurrent Energy director and Managing Partner at Hudson Clean Energy Partners. In addition to its core LCD TV business, Sharp is also focusing on its solar cell business. It has been more than 50 years since Sharp first started researching solar cells.

Installing solar panels in oil rich Alaska


Alaska solar lg 150x150 Installing solar panels in oil rich AlaskaAs the American Solar Energy Society prepares to kick off it’s National Solar Tour; more states are offering incentives to help people go green with solar. But that’s not the case in Alaska, a state with massive oil resources. So in Alaska it takes guts to go solar. Take the case of Phil St. John, MD. Phil lives on an island in the Cook Inlet. He moved to Alaska nine years ago after falling in love with it while on a fishing trip with his son. He had been practicing medicine in California. “What my fellow Alaskans have proven here is that solar technology is viable. He lives off the grid as do many Alaskans. Alaskans are forging ahead despite the fact that they don’t have the net metering and state cash rebates available in many other states. He helped coordinate the Alaska Solar Tour.

Dr. Phil said he was delighted with the sheer number of site hosts — and the groundswell of Alaskans who participated in the tour. “We expected a handful of tour site hosts, and ended up with 30 who accommodated nearly 500 Alaskans across a 1,200 mile geographic area. Alaskans’ enthusiasm for the power of solar energy is strong. If sticking with traditional fossil fuel-fed energy sources is the norm, Alaskans are going rogue over the benefits of solar technology.

“One community outside of Wasilla was offered a $250,000 state grant to support interconnection,” he noted. “Considering all the public goods charges, taxes and related costs associated with being attached to a utility, they opted to stick with their independent resources. About 50% of the tour sites featured folks who deployed solar and wind turbines and were living comfortably off the grid. The bulk of them focused on solar thermal technologies, which is usually more cost-effective and tends to have a faster payback than solar electric technologies.”

Boeing developing the Solar Eagle


MSF10 0169 01 SolarEagle MED 300x199 Boeing developing the Solar Eagle Now The Boeing Company has signed an agreement with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop and fly the SolarEagle unmanned aircraft for the Vulture II demonstration program. Under the terms of the $89 million contract, SolarEagle will make its first demonstration flight in 2014. Boeing isn’t the only company interested solar powered aircraft. The Cri-Cri is the world’s smallest electric plane recently made its official maiden flight at Le Bourget airport near Paris. Earlier this summer in Payerne, Switzerland – An experimental solar-powered plane completed its first 24-hour test flight successfully, proving that the aircraft can collect enough energy from the sun during the day to stay aloft all night.The test brings the Swiss-led project one step closer to its goal of circling the globe using only energy from the sun. Pilot Andre Borschberg eased the Solar Impulse out of the clear blue morning sky onto the runway at Payerne airfield.

“SolarEagle is a uniquely configured, large unmanned aircraft designed to eventually remain on station at stratospheric altitudes for at least five years,” said Pat O’Neil, Boeing Phantom Works program manager for Vulture II. “That’s a daunting task, but Boeing has a highly reliable solar-electric design that will meet the challenge in order to perform persistent communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions from altitudes above 60,000 feet.”

During testing, the SolarEagle demonstrator will remain in the upper atmosphere for 30 days, harvesting solar energy during the day that will be stored in fuel cells and used to provide power through the night. The aircraft will have highly efficient electric motors and propellers and a high-aspect-ratio, 400-foot wing for increased solar power and aerodynamic performance.

Borrow a cup of sugar and learn about solar too


Want to learn about solar power? Knock on your neighbor’s door. With 648 community solar tours registered to date the ASES National2972626805 eb5f1f2aea 150x150 Borrow a cup of sugar and learn about solar tooSolar Tour is the world’s largest grassroots solar event. This event offers you the opportunity to tour innovative green homes and buildings to see how you can use solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies to reduce monthly utility bills and help tackle climate change.

Maybe it’s tricky to connect the dots between climate change and human survival on the earth, but it is real and we all have an opportunity to something about it. For an interesting perspective listen to a green renaissance IV or read author Archil Daug’s writing.

NATIONAL SOLAR TOUR – HOUSTON 2009

This year ASES (American Solar Energy Society) expects  more than 160,000 participants will visit some 5,500 buildings in 3,200 communities across the U.S.

Now in its 15th year, this event is coordinated nationally by the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society in collaboration with dozens of outstanding partner organizations. It takes place annually during the first Saturday in October in conjunction with National Energy Awareness Month. Among the menu of solar solutions showcased in this year’s National Solar Tour are investments that have helped a couple beat Wall Street with their green ROI, an Iraqi war veteran now fighting in the renewable revolution, solar-powered homes, schools, public agencies, condo complexes — and businesses that run the gamut from solar-powered poultry farms to funeral homes.

Richard Burns ASES National Solar Tour Manager  says“Interest in the solar industry is cooking, and consumers across the nation are eager to sample its wares, which bring enticing tax credits, cash rebates, improved property values and cleaner communities to home and business owners across America.” To learn more about the Solar Tour, find a tour in your area, or register your own solar tour.

GRID Alternatives and Sunvalley Solar work greater LA


thin film panoramasm11 150x150 GRID Alternatives and Sunvalley Solar work greater LAGRID Alternatives the Oakland based non-profit that has been providing solar solutions for low-income families living in the Bay Area has partnered with Sunvalley Solar to offer solar in Southern California. Sunvalley Solar is a leader in providing solar system solutions with extensive solar energy technologies.

Under the California Solar Initiative program, GRID Alternatives has become the Program Manager meant for the SASH (Single-family Affordable Solar Homes) program. The solar initiative program has been funded by the ratepayers of California while being conducted as per the auspices of CPUC (California Public Utilities Commission). SASH happens to be the nation’s first solar incentive conducted especially for the low-income families while Sunvalley Solar provides variants towards the solar system solutions in supporting GRID Alternatives under the SASH program.

Recently, GRID Alternatives had successfully conducted the company’s first Greater Los Angeles Solarthon, by installing solar systems meant for low-income homeowners living in Piru, Ventura County. For over ten years GRID Alternatives has been focusing towards bringing energy efficiency as well as well as solar electricity to low-income homeowners while providing community members with hands-on experience and training for the usage of renewable energy technologies.

Solar a not so Futuristic Affordable Solution for Energy


images5 Solar a not so Futuristic Affordable Solution for Energy North Haven, CT, USA — Are you searching for the most affordable way to set up your own solar panel plant to generate free electricity at your house? The good news is that solar panels have now become very affordable. Manufacturers from all over the world are producing high quality solar panels at very economic prices. Governments in several countries are also making dedicated efforts to promote solar power as an alternative to non-renewable sources of energy, such as coal and oil. Promotion of solar energy by the government and new levels of affordability have brought solar solar powered homes 150x150 Solar a not so Futuristic Affordable Solution for Energy energy within reach for most of the homemakers. As a result, global markets are now witnessing a new and rising trend when it comes to buying solar panels.

orange solar concept tent 150x150 Solar a not so Futuristic Affordable Solution for Energy According to experts, solar panels are believed to have a bright future. The reasons of its seemingly bright future are quite obvious. Production of solar energy at home saves you a lot of money on your electricity bills and is also very helpful in minimizing the waste during the energy production process.

The CEO of a leading solar panels wholesaler in USA (Solar Wholesale Products) said, “Solar energy and wind energy are making sense, and that is why their popularity is increasing exponentially.Buying solar panels and setting up a residential solar power plant will not only save on your electricity bill, but also will be an indicative of your dedication and care towards the environment.”

“The best thing about setting up a solar plant is that it does not cost a fortune to have your own powerhouse. You can start with a small solar power plant if you are low on budget. Eventually, you can keep adding new solar panels when your budget permits,” he added.