SunPower Acquires French Solar Company

Posted on January 31, 2012 by quest

San Francisco bay area based SunPower a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems today announced it has completed its acquisition of the wholly-owned Total SA subsidiary Tenesol SA, a global solar provider headquartered in La Tour de Salvagny, France for $165.4 million in cash. Concurrently with the closing of this acquisition, Total purchased 18.6 million shares of SunPower common stock in a private placement at $8.80 per share. Total now owns approximately 66 percent of SunPower’s common stock.”SunPower is well positioned to gain share during the current market transition with the addition of Tenesol’s established European and global customer channels and strong manufacturing base in Europe and Africa,” said Tom Werner, SunPower president and CEO. “Tenesol’s well-established engineering and sales channels and strong team will complement SunPower’s world-leading high efficiency, high reliability solar panels and systems global footprint.”

Tenesol has been designing, engineering, manufacturing, installing and managing solar energy systems for its global customer base since 1983. It is a leading solar energy operator in Europe with a strong pipeline in the French market for large industrial and commercial photovoltaic rooftop solutions. The company has installed more than 15,000 solar systems worldwide totaling approximately 500 megawatts (MW) dc. In addition, Tenesol is a leader in the global off-grid market sector and expects to record revenue of approximately EUR 200 million in 2011. Post acquisition, SunPower will have deployed more than 2,500 MW dc of solar technology globally.

“With SunPower’s industry-leading technology, attractive long-term cost roadmap, our joint collaboration on research and development and Tenesol‘s established downstream presence, the combined company is well positioned to open new, largely untapped markets for solar,” said Arnaud Chaperon, senior vice president, Total Gas and Power Division.

Where is your water?

Santa Clara Students Ready For 2013 Solar Decathlon

Posted on January 30, 2012 by quest

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Thursday that Santa Clara University will compete in the 2013 Solar Decathlon, joining 19 other teams of universities and colleges from around the world. Santa Clara’s undergraduate engineering students will go up against some tough schools, such as Stanford, University of Southern California, and California Institute of Technology. They will also face mostly graduate students, many of whom with professional experience. SCU students, who are 19 to 22 years old, aren’t intimidated, though. Santa Clara University hopes the third time will be the charm in one of the world’s most prestigious competitions that determines the best designer and builder of a net-zero energy house.

“We’ve been putting in countless hours studying, researching, and developing our concept,” says Jake Gallau ’13, student project manager for Santa Clara University’s Solar Decathlon team. “We’re confident in our design and the technology we plan to use, and we’re hoping to shock the competition in 2013, just as our alumni have done in previous years.”Gallau is referring to SCU’s 2007 team, which surprised its opponents when it won third place after a late start in the competition. The university also won third place in 2009, after finishing in the top three in seven of the ten contests of the decathlon. Judges score each team in architecture, market appeal, engineering, communications, affordability, comfort zone, hot water, appliances, home entertainment, and energy balance. The team with the highest overall score wins, but as faculty project manager and Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor Tim Hight points out, winning the Solar Decathlon isn’t the most important goal for Santa Clara University.

To assist Santa Clara University with the architectural design of the home, the students will work with University of San Francisco’s undergraduate architecture program.The students will finalize their plans and begin fundraising for the remainder of the academic year. Then, they will begin more detailed design and analysis this summer. Construction of the house will begin in the spring of 2013. Once the home is finished in the fall, the students will dismantle it, and truck it to Orange County Great Park in Irvine, Calif., where the students will have to rebuild it, operate it, and prove that it’s a functional, energy-efficient, affordable home.Since 2002, the Solar Decathlon has been held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. For the 2013 Solar Decathlon, though, the DOE sought a new venue to promote the outreach, education, and economic benefits of energy security, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.

Solar Flares Affecting Humans

Toxic Spill Threatens 3.2 Million Residents In China

Watts Seed Lady And Beatrice Foods Go Organic

Posted on January 28, 2012 by quest

Beatrice Foods recently announced a Joint Marketing and Manufacturing Agreement with Anna Marie Carter, famously known as “The Seed Lady of Watts.” Best known for her use of Organic Coconut Oil and use of Chia Seeds in her cooking; Ms Carter and Beatrice Foods will co – create a line of organic foods. The food line will be marketed initially in the west and then sold nationally. The new line of products will be marketed under the Premier Foods Division of Beatrice.

Anna Carter has a history of breaking new ground, in a 2003 Yes Magazine article she said, “I had an organic vegetables, seeds, and plants store many years ago on Crenshaw Boulevard. The first day I went to open the front door and I looked behind me and there stood three little boys, lined up in a row, like they were in the army. I opened the door and they came in, after saying “Good morning,” and proceeded to take all my plants outside and set up the organic vegetable and flowers stands for the day. They were sent to me by a higher source. I taught them many things. We planted tomatoes out back that grew over seven feet tall. The boys sold the tomatoes and used the money for school clothes and supplies. One even paid his mother’s utility bills. They are grown now, but when I see them they kiss and hug and thank me. “After receiving dozen of awards; Anna received the Justie Award in 2011 from Eco Farm California. Top honors for her field in Environmental and Social Justice.

Dewitt Hoopes, CEO of Beatrice said,”Ms. Carter initially reached out to us about her product concept and how the general public needed something that was truly different. Anna has a compelling concept and a deep passion for producing organic foods that are nutritionally healthy and affordable – and that fits into our vision here at Beatrice.”

Solar Energy Use Up

California Selected For 2013 Solar Decathlon

Posted on January 27, 2012 by quest

Now just after President Obama’s State of the Union Address The United States Department of Energy today announced that the Orange County Great Park has been selected as the site for the 2013 Solar Decathlon. The Solar Decathlon challenges international collegiate teams to design and build solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive while promoting the education and economic benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Visitors will be able to tour the renewable energy houses that combine energy-efficient construction and appliances at a specially-constructed Great Park Solar Village in the fall of 2013.

“I am extremely proud that after carefully evaluating sites throughout the nation, the Department of Energy selected our Great Park as the location of this important international event,” said Mike Ellzey, Chief Executive Officer, Orange County Great Park Board Corporation. “Staging the 2013 Solar Decathlon at the Great Park will focus worldwide attention on the entire solar renewable energy industry in Orange County and throughout California. The event will also greatly stimulate the local economy by bringing in tourism dollars from those attending.”

“The Orange County Great Park is proud and honored to be chosen as the host site for the 2013 U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon,” said Beth Krom, Chair of the Orange County Great Park Corporation Board of Directors. “This unique event fits perfectly with our vision and focus on innovation, sustainability and community engagement. We are excited and look forward to working with the Department of Energy, the participating universities and our community partners to put on an extraordinary event.”The Solar Decathlon is a biennial event that was launched in 2002. The 2013 Solar Decathlon at the Orange County Great Park will be the first Decathlon held outside of Washington D.C.. The Great Park was selected through a national competition.

Dickson Despommier on The Vertical Farm

Obama Goes Green In State of The Union

Posted on January 25, 2012 by quest

President Obama put it out there in last night’s State of the Union Address at one point saying, “Millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules every day deserve a government and a financial system that do the same,” Obama said. “It’s time to apply the same rules from top to bottom. No bailouts, no handouts, and no cop-outs. He focused on four areas – American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.There it was the energy, the passion, the truth telling and a vision for a new clean green tech America. Was that Barrack Obama calling for innovation and entrepreneurship to drive a new era of energy prosperity? Or was it Obama channeling former President Jimmy Carter who back in 1977 proposed a new National Energy Policy. I wonder where we’d be if his policies had remained in effect. Who knows maybe there would have been no need for a war in Iraq.

And just last week President Obama went thumbs down on the Keystone XL Pipeline project which opponents had called an environmental disaster in the making. In his State of the Union speech last night he went directly after big oil. He said,”Our experience with shale gas, our experience with natural gas, shows us that the payoffs on these public investments don’t always come right away. Some technologies don’t pan out; some companies fail. But I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy. I will not walk away from workers like Bryan. I will not cede the wind or solar or battery industry to China or Germany because we refuse to make the same commitment here. We’ve subsidized oil companies for a century. That’s long enough. It’s time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that rarely has been more profitable, and double-down on a clean energy industry that never has been more promising. Pass clean energy tax credits. Create these jobs”

While conceding the logjam in Congress he said, “We can also spur energy innovation with new incentives. The differences in this chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight climate change. But there’s no reason why Congress shouldn’t at least set a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation. So far, you haven’t acted. Well, tonight, I will. I’m directing my administration to allow the development of clean energy on enough public land to power 3 million homes. And I’m proud to announce that the Department of Defense, working with us, the world’s largest consumer of energy, will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history -– with the Navy purchasing enough capacity to power a quarter of a million homes a year.

Military Has Gigawatts Of Solar Energy Potential

A Green Agenda Mr. President

Posted on January 24, 2012 by quest

By Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins: Tonight, President Obama presents his State of the Union address. He’s expected to present a forceful vision for 2012.The problem, of course, is that we need to be building an American economy today that will position us for the next hundred years, not just the next one. There’s a clear path to doing so, but political obstacles will make it difficult.
So today Green For All is announcing a “Plan To Keep America First,” a four-step outline of how the President can ensure that our nation remains strong and competitive well into the next century, while putting Americans back to work now:
1.   Recognize long-term growth opportunities. Specifically, the on-going growth of renewable energy, green jobs, and pollution controls
2.   Make direct entrepreneurial investments in green technology. Leverage the government’s resources to support the clean energy economy and ensure a robust return on its investment.
3.   Make direct investments in infrastructure – with an eye toward the future. Build infrastructure now that considers long-term sustainability and energy use trends.
4.   Use full power of the executive branch. It’s vital that the private sector work with President Obama to figure out creative ways to make progress.

The plan is ambitious and not politically easy. That’s where you come in. Take a few minutes to read the plan. Then, contact your member of Congress using our online tools. Let the President and your member of Congress know that you support Green For All’s bold, forward-looking agenda for America.We’ve seen repeatedly over the last few months the power of speaking out, both on Wall Street and online. It’s time for us to step up once again and demand the jobs that will keep America first.