New Yorkers Have Affordable Solar Energy Options

Posted on November 2, 2011 by quest

Mercury Solar Systems, one of the leading solar integrators on the East Coast, today announced that the Company has been selected by SunRun to bring affordable home solar to New Yorkers. The companies have enabled hundreds of homeowners in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to go solar for a fraction of the normal cost.”The number one concern for homeowners today is controlling their electricity cost as it continues to rise on average 6 percent every year,” commented David Sugrue, Director of Residential Sales at Mercury Solar Systems. “SunRun offers the optimal solution as they enable homeowners to lock in their electricity rate with minimal upfront investment. In today’s economic climate, SunRun has proven to be the best choice for homeowners looking to save money.”

As a solar energy service provider, SunRun owns and maintains solar systems on homeowners’ roofs and works with Mercury Solar Systems on the installation. Homeowners avoid the high upfront costs and pay a low monthly rate for clean power, fixing their energy costs to save thousands of dollars over time on their energy bills. “In today’s economy homeowners need to put their finances first, and we’ve found a way to make solar something that’s good for homeowners’ wallets and the planet,” said SunRun President and Co-founder Lynn Jurich. “We’re excited to bring this offering to New York and to work with trusted partners like Mercury Solar Systems to make solar more affordable throughout the state.”

“I’ve been thinking about putting solar on my house for awhile and SunRun was the deciding factor. The lease option means I save a lot on upfront out-of-pocket costs plus I don’t have to worry about maintaining and insuring the system. I’m excited to begin working with Mercury Solar Systems on the installation,” said Matt Browne, a Westchester homeowner and one of Mercury Solar Systems and SunRun’s first New York customers.

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Organic Solar Cells Sparking Consumer Electronics

Posted on October 30, 2011 by quest

Molecular Solar Ltd, a spinout company from the University of Warwick, has achieved a significant breakthrough in the performance of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. They have achieved and demonstrated a record voltage for organic photovoltaic cells that means these highly flexible, low cost solar cells can now be devolved for commercial uses in a wide range of consumer electronics. The Company’s most recent advance in the development of its organic photovoltaic (OPV) cell technology is the realisation of cells with open-circuit voltages in excess of 4 volts for the first time. Molecular Solar’s research team believe this is a record for an OPV device. Dr Ross Hatton, Research Director of the company commented:
“This is an important advance. We are now very close to having highly flexible organic photovoltaic cells that will be capable of delivering electrical energy at a voltage suitable for recharging lithium ion batteries that are widely used in portable consumer electronics. Remarkably, this high voltage is achieved using a cell with only 4 junctions (sub-cells)’’.University of Warwick researcher Professor Tim Jones, who is Chief Technology Officer of Molecular Solar, added:

“The first generation of organic photovoltaics will be exceptionally well matched to consumer electronics applications. The advantage of Molecular Solar’s high voltage cells is that a single cell can be used with no requirement to connect multiple cells in series for these applications, saving manufacturing cost. ’’Andrew Oldfield, Head of Cleantech at Mercia Fund Management said, “We were attracted to Molecular Solar’s unique approach to realizing truly flexible, environmentally sustainable photovoltaics that are well matched to the burgeoning portable consumer electronics market.”

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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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Yingli Solar To Sponsor World Cup Brazil

Posted on June 8, 2011 by quest

“Yingli Green Energy” a leading solar energy company and one of the world’s largest vertically integrated photovoltaic (“PV”) manufacturers, which markets its products under the brand “Yingli Solar”, today announced the sponsorship of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil on the occasion of the 2011 Intersolar show in Munich, Germany. During a joint press conference, both FIFA and Yingli Green Energy’s top management addressed journalists and guests from around the globe. A special attraction was the display of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ Winner’s Trophy and introductory speeches by Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy, and Mr. Thierry Weil, Marketing Director of FIFA.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the 20th edition of world football’s flagship event and is scheduled to take place in June and July 2014 in Brazil. Yingli Green Energy is convinced that the FIFA World Cup™ is one of the best marketing platforms. This particular FIFA World Cup™ will ensure not only brand exposure into Brazil, one of the largest consumers of energy in South America, but all around the world. Brazil, with an estimated cumulative solar PV capacity of currently 20MW, has long been referred to as the “pais do future” – the country of the future. Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy, said: “After our 2010 FIFA World Cup™ sponsorship, we saw a tremendous increase in our brand awareness and inquiries for our products. We were also very happy to see how our products brought smiles to the children in need by supplying our solar solutions for FIFA’s Football for Hope program. Thus, we are thrilled to continue our sponsorship with FIFA by becoming an Official Sponsor of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil and to be an important renewable energy partner to the world’s most-watched single-sport event. We are excited to once again join hands with FIFA, to build a greener FIFA World Cup™ and a more sustainable future with affordable clean energy provided by the sun.”

Mr. Thierry Weil, FIFA Marketing Director said, “We could not have organized the FIFA World Cup on the scale that we saw in 2010 without the support of sponsors such as Yingli Solar. Yingli Solar’s activities have had a wide geographical impact, from raising the awareness of the FIFA World Cup™ in their home market China, to providing solar expertise and products in rural parts of Africa as part of the “Football for Hope” program. We view our agreement as a strategic long-term cooperation and I am delighted to welcome Yingli Solar on board as a committed sponsor of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™.”

GREEN INVESTING

Thin film solar business rising

Posted on October 15, 2010 by quest

3M has announced the expansion of its Ultra Barrier Solar Film manufacturing. 3M has always had its hand in the film market so it just seems natural to see them further expand into the thin film solar market. As a key component supplier to the solar industry, this expansion will support the growing demand for high performing flexible PV modules. The majority of the facility expansion will be located in Columbia, Missouri. Designed to address the needs of flexible thin film solar manufacturers, 3M Ultra Barrier Solar Film acts as a replacement for glass. Compared with glass-glass modules, large area, light weight flexible PV modules manufactured with 3M Ultra Barrier Solar Film can achieve significantly lower costs by requiring less installation time, removing the need for metal racking, and reducing logistics expenditures.

Derek DeScioli, Business Development Manager for the 3M Renewable Energy Division. “3M is a recognized leader in ultra barrier film technology, and we are committed to accelerating our efforts to support the scale-up of our thin film manufacturing customers.We are a recognized leader in ultra barrier film technology, and we are committed to accelerating our efforts to support the scale-up of our thin film manufacturing customers.”

3M’s Renewable Energy Division offers 100 years of combined expertise in coatings, film, tape, adhesive and optical technologies to the rapidly expanding renewable energy and energy efficiency markets worldwide. With all that’s going on at 3M and thin film technology one wonders what Kokak is up to?