Solar Energy Growth In America Outpaces Global Market

Posted on September 20, 2011 by quest

The U.S. solar energy market continued its rapid growth during the second quarter of 2011, according to the latest release of GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association quarterly U.S. Solar Market Insight report. Solar photovoltaics (PV) led the way with 314 megawatts installed across the U.S. in the second quarter, 69 percent more than during the same period last year. “Even in this tough economy the U.S. solar industry continues to be one of the fastest growing in America,” said SEIA president and CEO Rhone Resch. “There are now more than 100,000 Americans working in the solar industry, twice as many as there were in 2009. They work at 5,000 companies – mostly small businesses – across all 50 states.”

The utility and commercial solar market segments grew 37 percent and 22 percent, respectively. The residential PV segment slowed, installing 60 megawatts, a 5.7 percent drop over last quarter. Still, the industry’s overall growth means it is powering the equivalent of 630,000 homes. The industry faces challenges in 2012 that could slow its torrid pace from the past year and a half. “The potential expiration of the 1603 Treasury program, along with current malaise in major markets, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, threaten to slow growth in 2012,” said Shayle Kann, Managing Director of Solar at GTM Research. “Still, with increasing market diversity and the continued emergence of the utility-scale solar market, we anticipate that the U.S. market share of global installations will triple over the next four years.”

“The dynamic second quarter growth is a result of increased competition in the solar market, competition that drove down the price of solar panels by 30 percent since the beginning of 2010,” added Resch. “This is good news for residential and business customers as solar becomes more affordable every day.”

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JinkoSolar To Sponsor San Francisco 49ers

Posted on September 19, 2011 by quest

The San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL) today announced its sponsorship agreement with JinkoSolar, a fast-growing, vertically-integrated solar power product manufacturer. JinkoSolar will serve as the team’s exclusive solar sponsor for the 2011-2012 NFL season. “Our agreement with JinkoSolar is a reflection of the San Francisco 49ers’ dedication to promoting environmentally friendly practices within our facilities and throughout the greater community,” said Paraag Marathe, Chief Operating Officer for the 49ers. “As we look to the future with a new stadium, we plan to incorporate significant green building and design elements, including energy and water conservation measures in addition to the use of clean solar power. As such, we are proud to count such a respected provider of solar energy technologies among our valued network of sponsors.”

Under the terms of the agreement, JinkoSolar will display its signage in a variety of locations within the team’s stadium, Candlestick Park, including the scoreboard, LED message boards and a prominent ribbon panel. JinkoSolar will also have exclusive branding rights to Gate F in Candlestick Park, which will be known as “JinkoSolar Gate” for the duration of the season.

Additional branding opportunities are included for radio and online outlets, with JinkoSolar entitlements during halftime radio broadcasts and commercials, as well as on the team’s website and official Facebook page.“JinkoSolar is dedicated to building strong relationships in the United States through partnerships with customers and distributors – and now, with one of the country’s most esteemed sports teams,” said Arturo Herrero, Chief Marketing Officer for JinkoSolar. “We are honored to align ourselves with an organization that shares both our commitment to sustainability and our high-performance ideology, and we look forward to a successful season all around.”

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Solar Energy Production Shines On Brazil

Posted on September 18, 2011 by quest

GE and MPX, a division of EBX Group have announced an agreement that will double the output of MPX’s first solar power plant in Brazil. The announcement signifies an important step for both MPX and GE in helping provide clean, renewable energy to the people of Brazil and marks GE’s entrance into the Brazilian solar energy market. Currently the plant in Taua, Fortaleza, Ceara state, has 4,680 solar panels capturing sunlight and turning it into 1 megawatt (MW) of clean energy, which MPX estimates is enough to power 1,500 households in the region. With this new expansion, GE will provide an additional 1-MW solar power plant, which includes the company’s thin film panels, Brilliance inverters, transformers and SunIQ monitoring and control system.

“MPX is a pioneer in solar energy in Brazil and has invested in developing solar energy for the medium and long term. Working with GE, we plan to grow our business at this plant to 50 MW,” said Eduardo Karrer, the CEO of MPX. “Today’s announcement with MPX signals our entry into the Brazilian solar industry,” said Marcelo Soares, president and CEO of GE Energy Latin America. “GE is committed to providing innovative solutions for our customers’ challenges, and we look forward to working with MPX in the solar arena.”

Shine On

Approximately 360 kilometers from Fortaleza, MPX Taua is connected to Brazil’s national electrical grid through a local substation. For the second phase, the Taua solar plant has been authorized by the National Electrical Energy Agency (ANEEL) and licensed by the Ceara state Environment Department (SEMACE) to expand its capacity up to 5 MW. The project developed by MPX for the solar power plant is expected to reach 50 MW, and the partnership between GE and MPX is expected to continue with this future expansion.

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SunPower Donates Solar Training To Greenpeace Africa

Posted on September 16, 2011 by quest

The SunPower Foundation, today announced the donation of high efficiency SunPower photovoltaic (PV) solar panels to Greenpeace Africa. The panels will be installed in September by 30 local youth during a two week solar training course in Durban, South Africa, led by Greenpeace. They will learn more about solar PV and other renewable energy technologies as well as complete course modules covering social entrepreneurship and Greenpeace’s Energy (R)evolution report. “Greenpeace Africa is thrilled that the SunPower Foundation has offered to solarize our headquarters and mobile solar showcase units for the upcoming UN climate talks in Durban, both benefitting the people of South Africa,” said Olivia Langhoff, campaigns director for Greenpeace Africa. “This donation provides an impetus for investment and is a demonstration that renewable energy solutions are feasible.”

Once installed, the four high efficiency SunPower solar panels will generate clean energy for two Greenpeace Africa mobile solar showcase units to be displayed at the 17th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNGCCC), being held in Durban, South Africa from November 28 through December 9, 2011. Each unit will utilize solar-powered multi-media technology devices, including televisions, laptops and sound systems, to communicate the growing need for renewable energy solutions while staffers share their knowledge and experience with solar PV.

“With this donation, the SunPower Foundation remains true to its mission – to empower the world’s next generation of solar leaders,” said Doug Richards, SunPower Foundation chairman. “We hope that the Greenpeace Solar Training course will inspire local youth to explore solar technology and create renewable solutions for energy needs in this part of the world and beyond.”Furthering the relationship, the SunPower Foundation has also agreed to solarize the Greenpeace Africa Johannesburg headquarters with a high efficiency SunPower rooftop system later this year.

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Solar Panels Go Hollywood Primetime at 63rd Emmys

Posted on September 14, 2011 by quest

A 50-kilowatt system goes prime time during the official live pre-show “Countdown To the Emmys,” airing Sunday, Sept. 18 (7:00-8) on FOX, where the hottest names in American television will strut beneath the solar awning outside the Nokia Theatre at the L.A. Live entertainment center in downtown Los Angeles. Jane Lynch will host the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards. Reliably drawing 12-13 million viewers, the awards show acts as a celebration of popular culture. In that light, this year’s show will present solar power as an energy option available to regular homeowners around the country and even the world. A canopy composed of 225 high-performance solar panels from SolarWorld, the largest U.S. solar manufacturer for more than 35 years, will grace the red carpet at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards, giving solar energy its first starring role in U.S. entertainment culture.

The Emmys 1965

FOX, presenter of this year’s Emmys, selected SolarWorld’s solar panels to help power the television industry showcase that increasingly has featured green elements in FOX’s campaign “Green it. Mean it.” The many sustainable enhancements of the awards event will include carpet manufactured from recycled materials, energy-efficient lighting, and locally sourced and organically grown food. FOX believes this year’s red carpet pre-show will be the most visible eco-friendly event of its kind.

After the show, the solar panels will go on to star in a sequel role: SolarWorld and Fox will donate them to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization dedicated to “eliminating substandard housing by making simple, sustainable and affordable housing a matter of conscience and action.” The panels will serve 10-20 households while enabling Habitat for Humanity to provide better energy efficiency to hard-working, low-income partner families and individuals throughout greater Los Angeles.”The Emmys spotlight the tastes, trends and technologies which viewers nationwide are tuning into in their lives,” said Kevin Kilkelly, president of SolarWorld Americas. “This year’s show will mark the historical moment when solar power made its debut in American popular culture.”

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Masayoshi Son Backs Renewable Energy In Japan

Posted on September 14, 2011 by quest

By Jay Alabaster – Japan’s richest entrepreneur outlined a plan on Monday to rebuild the country’s energy infrastructure in the wake of its nuclear disaster, shifting the majority of supply to natural, renewable resources by 2030. Masayoshi Son, founder and CEO of SoftBank, was speaking at the launch of his Japan Renewable Energy Foundation. He said Japan could shift to renewable energy sources for 60% of its electricity requirements over the next two decades, calling for a 2 trillion yen (£16.34 billion) “super grid” across the country, and underwater off the coast, that would zip electricity around cheaply and efficiently to meet demand.

“Japan is a country that is riddled by earthquakes,” Son said at a conference hall in central Tokyo. “We must minimise our use of nuclear power over the next 20 years.”The business icon spoke six months after an earthquake triggered a tsunami that ravaged a large portion of Japan’s northeast coast, flattening towns and triggering meltdowns at a nuclear power plant that supplied much of Tokyo’s electricity. The country’s power companies are still struggling to meet demand, and the government has vowed to lessen dependance on nuclear plants, though Japan has few traditional energy resources of its own.

He promised to invest in ventures that backed renewable energy and called for opening up the power industry to allow for more competition. More openness would lead to opportunities for new players like Son, who has made his fortune forcing his way into the formerly tightly run business realms of internet providers and mobile operators. The business leader has already invested 1 billion yen (£8m) of his own money to create the foundation, and announced on Monday that SoftBank would invest 10-20 billion yen in a new renewable energy business. Read the full article: SoftBank founder backs Japan’s shift to renewable energy