Solar Power Wars

Posted on November 10, 2011 by quest

Gordon Brinser, president of SolarWorld and a leader for the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM) said.“We are pleased that the facts have begun to speak for themselves. China’s plans for the U.S. market have been clear from its excessive and illegal subsidization of its export-heavy industry, its ever-escalating drive to dump product at artificially low prices on the U.S. marketplace and its contrived public-affairs tactics, including a new coalition for Chinese importers that purports to serve the interests of American consumers.” His comments came in response to the U.S. Department of Commerce‘s decision to initiate an intensive, year-long investigation into Chinese solar export practices. “The anti-competitive tactics of Chinese exporters have threatened to wipe out U.S. producers and jobs,” Brinser said. “Domestic producers look forward to returning to steady increases in efficiency and sustainable decreases in pricing that directly result from legal international competition – and to advances in America’s renewable-energy future.”

A recently published survey by the Solar Energy Industries Association is clear that the U.S. public cares deeply about the vitality of domestic manufacturing as it stands in China’s crosshairs. The survey shows overwhelming bipartisan support – 82 percent – for U.S. solar manufacturing. Chinese companies have almost no production on U.S. soil. CASM alleges that China’s state-sponsored industry has mounted an onslaught of dumping that has included a surge of imports in recent months. Chinese exports into the United States in July alone exceeded those of all of 2010, according to federal trade data. To counter this alleged surge ahead of the U.S. investigation, the SolarWorld-led coalition is seeking a federal determination of “critical circumstances,” requiring that any import duties required to offset alleged improper trade tactics be applied retroactively for three months.

In discussing China’s market share accomplishments Jifin Gao, President of China based Trina Solar said he, “attributed that success to better operational management that creates a “huge cost advantage” to competitors from Japan, Europe or the U.S., he said. “We have a faster reaction to the market because it’s being managed properly. This gives us a competitive advantage.”Assuming the International Trade Commission finds on Dec. 5 that Chinese exports have harmed the domestic industry, the first possible determination on “critical circumstances” could come as soon as Jan. 12, meaning importers of record could later be required to deposit estimated duties on imports back to this past Oct. 14, according to CASM.

Solar Powered Education On the Move In South Africa

United Steelworkers Stand With U.S. Solar Companies

Posted on November 8, 2011 by quest

Recently Jifan Gao, Trina Solar President responded to The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing. (CASM), compliant to the World Trade Organization of unfair trade practices. Now a group of seven domestic U.S. solar manufacturers led by SolarWorld Industries America Inc., today welcomed the support of the United Steelworkers (USW) – with 850,000 active members, the nation’s largest union – for the coalition’s petitions for anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Chinese imports.
The solar energy business continues to gather mainstream media attention as New Times writer Paul Krugman reported in his article, “Here comes the sun.” In it he laid out the case for the rapid development of renewable energy in America. Meanwhile Trina CEO, Goa in an interview with Bloomberg said “This is the decade of mergers and acquisitions. From now until 2015 is the first phase, when about two-thirds of the players will be shaken out.”

According to U.S. trade statistics, Chinese exports of solar cells and panels to the United States rose more than 350 percent from 2008 to 2010. In the first eight months of 2011 alone, imports from China totaled $1.6 billion, more than in all of 2010. In fact, exports in the month of July 2011 alone exceeded those from all of 2010. CASM contends that Chinese dumping has played a significant role in causing seven U.S. solar plants to close or downsize during the past 18 months, eliminating thousands of jobs, directly and indirectly, in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania.

In the union’s letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission (ITC), Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers, said, in part: “Unfortunately, China continues to operate in a manner that is utterly inconsistent with its WTO obligations, which comes at the expense of developing our nation’s clean energy sector and creating and sustaining clean energy jobs for American workers. We urge you to vigorously apply and enforce our trade laws in these solar cases so that American workers and domestic industries can have a fair chance to compete in the U.S. market.” “Manufacturing is the fuel that drives our economic engine,” said Gordon Brinser, U.S. president of SolarWorld, the leader of CASM and the named petitioner in the case. “Members of the Steelworkers Union understand that the key to American economic growth is healthy competition. Their support for U.S. trade actions that keep quality, high-paying jobs in America and allow American companies to compete fairly in the global marketplace is greatly appreciated.”The next step in the case is an ITC staff hearing today Nov. 8, 2011.

Green Jobs Occupy California’s Future

10,000 Surrounded White House Protesting Oil Pipeline

Transforming Solar Sense

Posted on November 7, 2011 by quest

You’ve heard the argument before and no doubt you’ll hear it again and again. Solar is just too expensive. But last week Secretary of Energy Steven Chu highlighted the choice America faces on whether or not to take advantage of the huge economic opportunity and compete with countries like China in the clean energy race. He said, ““Once again, there is a huge opportunity before us – a global clean energy market that is already worth an estimated $240 billion and is growing rapidly. In fact, a very reasonable estimate is that solar photovoltaic systems alone represent a global market worth more than $80 billion this year.”“China – like many countries – has learned from the U.S. how government can support critical emerging industries. Last year, China offered roughly $30 billion in government financing to its solar companies, including $7 billion to Suntech. At least 10 countries have adopted renewable electricity standards, and more than 50 countries offer some type of public financing for clean energy projects. For example, Germany and Canada operate government-backed clean energy lending programs, and in the last several months, the UK, Australia, and India have announced plans to do the same.”

On November 17, Steven Chu, has agreed to testify about the failed solar energy company Solyndra before congressional investigators on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Solyndra received a $535 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy. Chairman of the Committee Rep. Cliff Stearns said in a statement. “We hope he will finally provide answers about why DOE consciously ignored the direct warnings from their own experts that Solyndra was doomed to fail, and granted the loan to Solyndra.” Congress has issued a subpoena to the White House, with the White House refusing to comply stating it has already released over 80,000 pages to Congress.

Now New York Times Columnist Paul Krugman ways in, “We are, or at least we should be, on the cusp of an energy transformation, driven by the rapidly falling cost of solar power. That’s right, solar power. If that surprises you, if you still think of solar power as some kind of hippie fantasy, blame our fossilized political system, in which fossil fuel producers have both powerful political allies and a powerful propaganda machine that denigrates alternatives.” Read the full article: Here comes the sun.

Transforming ourselves transforming our energy

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A wet baby and change

SRI Listening To Tech and Clean Energy Innovations

Posted on November 6, 2011 by quest

SRI International celebrates 65 years of transformational innovations on Nov. 7. Since 1946, when SRI (then named Stanford Research Institute) was established to conduct research and development and stimulate the post-World War II economy, SRI has been pioneering solutions that are part of our daily lives. From the introduction of interactive computing and the computer mouse in the 1960s to recent advances such as the Siri virtual personal assistant, minimally invasive telerobotic surgery, and electroactive polymer “artificial muscle,” SRI researchers and technologists continue to build on a rich legacy and push the boundaries of what is possible. Over the years, SRI’s innovations have been meeting important customer and market needs and have created new industries and billions of dollars in market value. To date, SRI has launched more than 40 new ventures. Four spin-offs are now publicly traded and have a combined market capitalization of more than $20 billion. SRI spun off Siri, Inc. in 2007 to bring the technology to consumers. In April 2010, Apple acquired Siri, and in October 2011, Siri was unveiled as an integrated feature of the Apple iPhone 4S.

When you talk Siri listens

“In today’s innovation-based economy, the world is limited only by people with the skills that allow development of the abundant opportunities before us,” said Curtis R. Carlson, Ph.D., SRI’s president and chief executive officer. “SRI’s many R&D successes are the result of terrific staff members with the passion to deliver on our founding mission: discovery and the application of science and technology for knowledge, commerce, prosperity, and peace. Our approach, which we call the Five Disciplines of Innovation, is designed to create high-value solutions for our clients and partners.”

Today, SRI’s 2,100-plus staff members in Silicon Valley, Washington, D.C., Princeton, NJ, and around the world work in multidisciplinary teams to address some of the most challenging problems of our time such as the need for life-saving drugs and renewable clean energy, security of physical and Internet infrastructures, and new educational methods that will develop the next generation of scientists and engineers.

LED Street Greening

A Smart Way to Start Rebuilding America

Solar Powered Education On the Move In South Africa

Posted on November 6, 2011 by quest

Samsung recently unveiled its first Solar Powered Internet School in South Africa to help students in their studies without having to worry about electricity or Internet connectivity. The environmentally-friendly, transportable classroom is a perfect fit for Africa as it addresses one of the region’s biggest challenges – providing stable supply of electricity in rural areas.Despite differing views on the industry’s outlook, Samsung continues to believe solar energy can always be put to good use – not just generating electricity for residential or commercial utilization, but also for something really meaningful that can positively impact people’s lives.

A prime example of this is the use of solar power in education. Of course, solar-powered calculators, notebooks or other educational resources all contribute to improving the learning environment for young students. But what about an entire school or classroom that’s powered by solar energy? The 12-meter renovated container has solar panels installed on the roof that can generate nine hours of electricity a day, powering the electronic equipments inside the classroom. The classroom is equipped with a 50-inch electronic board, Internet-enabled solar-powered notebooks, Samsung’s Galaxy tablet computers as well as Wi-Fi cameras – all of which help enrich the learning experience. Up to 21 students can use the classroom, and the entire curriculums until grade 12 are stored in a central computer server enabling two-way learning by connecting to the Internet. The school can also be moved easily with a truck so that students in even the remotest of areas can continue their education.

The Solar Powered Internet School is just one of Samsung’s efforts to contribute to the local community with its innovative technologies and plans to expand these schools to other regions throughout Africa. Samsung last year identified solar as one of its new growth businesses, aiming to invest 6 trillion won ($5.4 billion) until 2020 to generate 10 trillion won in annual revenue by that year. Samsung SDI Co., which makes rechargeable batteries for mobile devices, is responsible for their solar business, currently has a capacity to produce 150 megawatts, with plans to increase production to 3 gigawatts by 2015.

Recycling for elegant floors

Solar Energy Leader SunPower Reorganizes

Posted on November 4, 2011 by quest

Silicon Valley solar manufacturer SunPower Corp. today announced a reorganization to align its businesses and cost structure with expected market conditions in 2012 and beyond. These changes will be effective immediately. Several of the company’s longest-tenured executives will adjust their areas of responsibility, including Howard Wenger, who will assume the title of President, Regions and Jack Peurach, who will assume the title Executive Vice President, Products, and Marty Neese, will remain Chief Operating Officer with expanded responsibilities. In addition, the company announced today on its earnings call that its Chief Financial Officer, Dennis Arriola, will be leaving the company in March of 2012 and that Jim Pape, its President, Residential and Commercial, will be leaving the company later this month. Earlier this year SunPower partnered with French oil producer, Total in a transaction that gives Total a $2.3 billion equity stake in SunPower. The companies announced that the broad strategic relationship would shape the future of the solar industry.

New Solar Global Power Makers

“SunPower’s differentiated technology and vertically integrated, diversified channel strategy has established our company as a leader in the industry and positioned us well to address the challenges of the current solar market environment,” said Tom Werner, SunPower CEO. “As we look to 2012, we plan to align our business structure “Everybody loves the sunshine”

to accelerate our product and technology innovation, increase the efficiency of our processes and reduce our costs. We are reorganizing the company to a regional business focus, a products group with product line profit and loss responsibility, and we will extend the responsibility of our upstream group to incorporate the research and development of our world-leading efficiency solar cell and panels.

“I thank Howard, Jack and Marty for stepping up to new or expanded roles at SunPower,” continued Werner. “Over the last three years, Dennis has established a culture of strong controls, continual process improvements and high quality standards in the finance and accounting teams, and built up a strong set of leaders around him. After the recent successful series of financings and credit facilities that he and his team have completed, I accepted his request to transition out of the company to pursue new opportunities and thank him for his leadership and contributions during tremendous growth at SunPower. Similarly, Jim Pape has grown the residential and commercial business in scale, footprint and efficiency during his tenure and we thank him for his contributions and leadership.”