Paula Mints reiterates an anemic 4.6 GigaWatt Photovoltaic (PV) demand forecast for 2009.
A preponderance of news and financial reports confirm 2009 PV demand is flat to up from 2008.
Last week per “Solar Market Declines for First Time Ever” by [...]
CPV News from MASDAR trumps Solar Power International 09.
I was looking forward to the SPI 09 Concentrating Photovoltaics (CPV) session moderated by Greentech Media Senior Analyst Eric Wesoff. For once, I had a few questions prepared in advance. When I sat down, I thought I was [...]
[Denver, Colorado USA]
Driving down the cost and pounds per kiloWatt (kW).
Revised plans to build a ~1 MW (MegaWatt) pilot power plant in 2010.
Cool Earth Solar CEO Rob Lamkin pitched the company at the 22nd National Renewable [...]
Many rights recognize and support residential and distributed solar installations.
Invoking the power of positive language to critique Amendments 5 and 6.
In his Solar Power International 09 keynote, SEIA President Rhone Resch Challenges Solar Industry to Unite, Fight for “Solar Bill of [...]
[Anaheim, California USA]
Select photos from the SPI 09 Conference and Expo.
The first Picasa slideshow is from the Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Expo slideshow has photos from the random wanderings of a Photovoltaic Blogger. Please see the captions for the context.
On the lighter side, here is a list from the [...]
[Anaheim, California USA]
SoloPanel SFX1 – Series flexible photovoltaic module
From SoloPower flexible SoloPanel SFX1 – Series at SPI 09I wasn’t the first with SoloPower module photos (PHOTOS: What’s Hot At Solar Power International 2009 by Katie Fehrenbacher at Earth2Tech), but my approach tends to [...]
820000 quarter sized equivalent photovoltaic (PV) modules?
With “KSK Surya Photovoltaic Venture Selects SunFab Solar Panel Production Lines for 150MW Project in India”, Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) ended an almost one year three month drought since the last [...]
AB 920 requires California utilities to pay owners for surplus solar (or wind) electricity generation.
Next: Eliminate the size to load limitation in the net metering law.
Quivira Vineyards, a small, family owned winery, is an example of a business that will benefit from AB 920.
Select Photovoltaic News Tidbits from the 24th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition.
It’s been like forever (1 year, 8 months, 10 days) since my last Solar Light Flashes. I’ve always planned to resurrect the haphazard post. Twitter delayed the return but sometimes 140 characters are insufficient.
[...]
German 2009 PV market demand defies iSuppli doom and gloom forecast.
iSuppli, your low ball 2009 Photovoltaic (PV) Forecast (Figure left, Source: iSuppli) of 3.9 GW (GigaWatts) needs a drastic revision upward.
The 24th EU PVSEC (European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition) was buzzing [...]
Video of the SET for 2020 Executive Summary
On Wednesday midway through the 24th EU PVSEC, I attended the 6th European Industry Forum titled Solar Photovoltaic Electricity: A mainstream power source in Europe by 2020. The PV Industry Forum has become a ritual since my first in Dresden.
After the [...]
Concentrator PhotoVoltaic (CPV) firm Sol3g absorbed by Abengoa Solar.
When a quick search revealed a comment regarding Sol3g on the “CPV CEO Hotseat (Updated Oct 7)” Green Light blog post by Eric Wesoff for Greentech Media, my next post became [...]
Photovoltaic Technical Highlights and Industry Summary on SET for 2020.
When I posted the 24th EU PVSEC: Photovoltaic Technical Highlights, I planned to include a YouTube video of Dr. Heinz Ossenbrink’s presentation. However, YouTube enforced their rigid 10 minute length policy even though the file size was well below [...]
[Luckenwalde (Teltow-Fläming), Germany]
Construction has resumed on the 1 MWp (MegaWatt-peak) solar farm.
While I was in Hamburg attending EU PVSEC, the article, “Auf der Mülldeponie Frankenfelder Berg sind die ersten Solarmodule installiert” (~“At the Frankenfelder hill landfill, the first solar modules have been installed”, [...]
[Hamburg, Germany]
It isn’t an EU PVSEC Closing Session without Dr. Heinz Ossenbrink, Technical Programme Chairman, presenting his Conference Technical Highlights.
Dr. Ossenbrink’s presentation is captured as a Picasa slideshow above with the text via manual entry below for those using online search.
(Some) Highlights of the 24th European Photovoltaic Conference [...]
[Hamburg, Germany]
24th EU PVSEC Poster Award Winners Group PhotoBonus Video of Poster Award Ceremony now appended.
Poster Award Chairman Dr. Arnulf Jäger-Waldau mastered the Ceremony of Poster Awards during the closing session of the 24th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition.
991 or [...]
[Hamburg, Germany]
From 24th EU PVSECDr. Andreas Bett awarded the 17th Becquerel Prize for the successful development of photovoltaic concentrator technology.
The Prize is named after French physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerel (1820-1891) who discovered the photovoltaic effect in 1839 at age 19.
During the opening [...]
RT @applied_blog: 24th Annual PVSEC: Photovoltaic (PV) solar panel prices have fallen about 40%.. [bit.ly] Ed:AMAT has Blog! #
RT @KACOnewenergy: #follow @SolarFred @bootsontheroof @gharman @PVAddict @AltEStore @SOLARLIFE @SolarIndustry @WholeSolar @vmsprint @Su … [...]
RT @applied_blog: 24th Annual PVSEC: Photovoltaic (PV) solar panel prices have fallen about 40%.. [bit.ly] Ed:AMAT has Blog! #
RT @KACOnewenergy: #follow @SolarFred @bootsontheroof @gharman @PVAddict @AltEStore @SOLARLIFE @SolarIndustry @WholeSolar @vmsprint @Su … [...] 
Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) Showcase project using SolFocus has an installed cost of $6.04 per Watt (W).
When I first saw “SolFocus Receives Award from National Renewable Energy Laboratory”, I missed the subheading, “City of Mesa, Arizona to Serve as First Showcase of Technology Developed [...]
Is SMA validating the microinverter segment or just playing catch up?
Earlier in September, SMA Solar Technology AG (ETR:S92) announced “plans to launch its own range of module inverters in the coming years” with “SMA increases its technological edge in the photovoltaic [...]
Highlighting photovoltaics, the CPUC proposes a reverse auction for Feed-in Tariff (FiT) pricing of 1.5 MW (MegaWatt) to 10 MW Distributed Generation renewables.
Valuing lowest price over quality, time, and open, transparent markets?
Per ATTACHMENT A – System-Side Renewable Distributed Generation Pricing Proposal released on August [...]
News coming about Nanosolar photovoltaic CIGS (copper indium gallium diselenide) Utility modules or installations?
Per the Nanosolar website:
Please check back here on Sept 9th for our new website with significant new announcements.
The anonymous EEStor Blogger was the first to post about the development in “[...]
Construction ramps in September and installation of more than 330000 photovoltaic modules (~20 MegaWatts AC) is slated for year end 2009.
Project completion is expected in 2010 after a winter break.
“Work on largest solar farm ramps up” by Shawn Jeffords for The Observer discusses [...]
[San Jose and Fremont, California USA]
Could Nanosolar be ramping production (at least a little)?
SoloPower and Solyndra also surveyed.
View CIGS Photovoltaic Silicon Valley in a larger map
These must be the dog days of summer if a CIGS (copper indium gallium diselenide) parking lot survey is all [...]
[Byron, California USA]
From GreenVolts GV1: Demolition ManConcentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) systems firm demolishes CarouSol trackers.
CarouSol is dead. Long live GreenVolts?
I was pushed the press release, “GreenVolts Names Solar and High Tech Industry Veteran as Vice President of Engineering”, on Wednesday. My first thought was [...]
[Palo Alto, California USA]
SunPower Solar Cell Color Anomaly at the Photovoltaic Demonstration Project.
Just an aesthetic issue?
I was almost done taking photos of the Photovoltaic (PV) tracker arrays at the Palo Alto Municipal Service Center (MSC) (please see [...]
[Palo Alto, California USA]
From Palo Alto Municipal Service Center PV TrackersThe tracker mounted Photovoltaic modules are filthy and have shading issues.
Questions emerge about design and installation compromises.
On my way back from checking out the SolFocus SF-1100 System at the Palo Alto Regional Water [...]
Understanding GreenWing Energy’s commitment to solar and SolFocus Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) systems.
From SolFocus 8.4kW SF-1100S-CPV-28 system
“GreenWing Energy signs agreement with SolFocus for utility scale deployments of CPV” by Emma Hughes at PV-tech.org echoed my concerns when I first saw this announcement: [...]
Schmid Pilot Production GmbH (SPP) celebrates topping out the Pyrolysis building.
Production start on track for March 2010 of monosilane and polysilicon for the Photovoltaic (PV) industry.
On July 15, 2009, Schmid Pilot Production GmbH (SPP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Schmid Silicon Technology GmbH (SST), held a [...]
Hemlock Semiconductor forecasts Global Polysilicon Supply capacity will exceed Solar Demand until at least 2013.
“There will be a surplus of silicon supply for the next several years.”
Hemlock Semiconductor Group Vice President Gary Homan presented “The Silicon Supply [...]
The Solar Magic explained.
[San Francisco, CA USA]
At Intersolar North America, Ralf Muenster, Director Renewable Energy Segment, National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM) presented “Maximizing PV Output with Power Optimizers” in the program session:
Photovoltaic Technology (3): System Technology, Inverters & Off-grid Systems Large Scale PV Power Plants & Concentrating PV
Perhaps [...]
[Sunnyvale, California USA]
50 MW (MegaWatt) plant under construction and online by September 2009.
16% and above efficiency solar cells processed from 100% Upgraded Metallurgical Silicon (UMG-Si) material.
Plans to achieve below $1/Watt UMG-Si Solar Cells in the next 18 months.
CaliSolar Sunnyvale plant reconnaissance.
From Intersolar North America
5.75 kiloWatt (kW) Concentrator PhotoVoltaic (CPV) system with new, optimized CX-75 modules.
Part of Concentrix Solar’s US market entry strategy.
Although I tweeted about the development last week, the cooperation with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), was disclosed [...]
[San Francisco, California USA]
Observing the obvious.
I managed to spend some time at Intersolar North America 2009 this week in San Francisco.
Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT)
From Intersolar North AmericaThe big news was US President Barack Obama somehow finding the time to visit Applied Materials before the [...]
Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) leads the pack on revenues.
Oerlikon Solar customers rule actual amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin film module production.
In Top 10 Suppliers of PV Manufacturing Equipment Worldwide for 2008, VLSI Research Inc. named Applied Materials the number one worldwide PV (Photovoltaic) [...]
Ramping and Scaling Concentrator PhotoVoltaic (CPV) Systems. Expanding manufacturing from 0.5 MW (MegaWatt) in 2008, to over 10 MW shipped in 2009, and 50 MW capacity by 2011.
Well, it is clear anyone reporting on Tuesday’s “Haywood Dorland Energy Capital, LLC, Invests in SolFocus, Inc., the [...]
Holistic approach improves Photovoltaic (PV) system energy yield by up to 25% while reducing BoS (Balance of System) and installation cost.
Mass production slated for September 2009.
It has been a while since Intersolar 2009: My Photovoltaic Top 10 List honored SolarEdge Technologies Inc. with [...]
“Accelerating the Solar Economy”
Pending AB 560 and SB 32 legislation top CALSEIA’s priorities.
I discovered over a week ago the presentations from The 1st Annual SolarTech / CALSEIA Summit held in early May were online and had been for some time. When I [...]
[San Jose, California USA]
High Gain Solar (HGS) power plant dedication including HGS module ratings.
After In Search of Skyline Solar – Part 2, I managed to attend the dedication of the Skyline Solar High Gain Solar (HGS) power plant at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Cerone Bus [...]
Applied Materials Dispelling and Creating Solar Myths in the United States.
As is often the case, I first saw this Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) press release:
“In Light” of Summer Solstice, Americans Call for More Solar Energy
Applied Materials Dispels Solar Technology Myths and Sets Path [...]
“Is the CPV (Concentrator PhotoVoltaics) Industry Ready to Ramp?”
More CPV Myth Busting plus CPV Environmental Positives.
Even as I finished the “State of the CPV Consortium” post, I knew a follow up was required to complete the State of CPV address. I begin here with the CPV forecast from [...]
“Is the CPV (Concentrator PhotoVoltaics) Industry Ready to Ramp?”
LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy) but what does it cost to install capacity?
On the second day of the PV Industry Forum 2009, SolFocus VP Marketing Nancy Hartsoch, in her role [...]
SolarMagic Outside Demo on the Freigelände at Intersolar 2009.
After visiting the SolarMagic stand, I managed to swing by the SolarMagic outside demo opposite Hall B5 before the National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM) Intersolar 2009 SolarMagic press event (please see SolarMagic, Solar Magic).
I received a cordial reception in contrast [...]
[Munich, Germany]
A funny thing happened at the PV Industry Forum 2009.
Solar Policy Not Invented by the SEIA?
Legal challenges for state Feed-in Tariff policies.
At the PV Industry Forum held last week before Intersolar 2009, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) President & CEO Rhone [...]
Photovoltaic power electronics are hot!
Clocking in with 1417 exhibitors covering 104000 square meters across nine halls and an outdoor area, I was competing with about 60000 visitors to capture my unfair share of Intersolar 2009 over three days at the New Munich [...]
[Munich, Germany]
SolarMagic Power Optimizer repositioned as a solution for Mismatch.
“SolarMagic Wins Intersolar 2009 Award”
“How does this device work?”
On the same day as its 50th anniversary, National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM) announced “National Semiconductor Launches SolarMagic [...]
[Palo Alto, California USA]
Distributed Power Electronics Going Solar.
AC Microinverters vs. DC Maximum Power Point optimization.
What about SolarMagic?
“Transforming Solar Installation with New Inverters and New Electronics” was the theme for the Wednesday, May 13, 2009, meeting of the Silicon Valley Photovoltaics Society (SVPVS) at the Palo Alto [...]
SVTC creates Green Jobs Principles for a safe and sustainable solar industry. Call to action to sign the Green Jobs Platform for Solar.
Last week, the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC, http://www.etoxics.org) announced the Green Jobs Platform for Solar to facilitate a dialog [...]
Weeklong campaign to raise public awareness of Solar Energy in Europe.
May 15-22, 2009, in 16 European Countries.
Per “2nd European Solar Days: Europe celebrates the energy from the sun 15-22 May 2009”:
the European Solar Days aim to promote the [...]
[San Jose, California USA]
Pilot High Gain Solar (HGS) Project at the Cerone Division of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA).
Project and electricity free to VTA!
HGS concentrating issue at the open end of the trough?
BETASOL, BETASOL, who art thou BETASOL?
2.375 MegaWatt (MW) High Concentration PhotoVoltaic (HCPV) deal has partial funding.
On April 21, 2009, “OPEL Int’l and BETASOL Increase Solar Footprint with Second Utility Grade Solar Farm in Spain”:
announced that BETASOL, its Spanish partner, has expanded its HCPV [...]
[San Francisco, California USA]
SilFoil™ delivers “Crystalline silicon efficiency and reliability at Thin Film manufacturing cost”.
Specialty 5 MegaWatt (MW) plant online by 1Q2010.
After the SoloPower at ThinkGreen Solar 2.0 Panel, NanoGram Corporation CEO Dr. Kieran Drain presented plans [...]
[Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County, NJ USA]
New Jersey municipal solar a bright spot for photovoltaic installations.
On Friday May 1, 2009, Fernwood Avenue Middle School was the first solar school commissioned by the Egg Harbor Township School District. “Egg Harbor Township schools turn on first solar grid” (with [...]
[Palo Alto, California USA]
From How Bright is the Future for Solar Power?Bright Solar panel “Quotable Quotes” highlights.
Concerns about US Stimulus program progress for Photovoltaics (PV).
Last week ended with a trio of dismal 1Q 2009 solar earnings reports from Oerlikon Solar, MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc., [...]
[Mountain View, California USA]
Finding the concentrating photovoltaic (PV) solar collector.
Skyline Solar CEO Bob MacDonald presenting at Dow Jones Alternative Energy Innovations Spring 2009 next week.
Since posting Skyline Solar Dawn, I’ve been keen on learning more about Skyline Solar’s High Gain Silicon PV solution. [...]
Bob Cart is out as Chairman and CEO.
Radical redesign may be underway departing from signature Power Unit and CarouSol.
GP Note: First, let me caution that my information for this post has been gleaned from confidential and anonymous sources. I’ve been investigating these claims for [...]
National Semiconductor boosts the voltage on SolarMagic Hype.
SolarMagic Specification Sheet not released either.
When I was surfing over at RenewableEnergyWorld.com earlier this week, I noticed a Leaderboard ad for SolarMagic from National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM). Unable to resist, I clicked it and was led [...]
[San Francisco, California USA]
SoloPower has started sampling CIGS products.
It’s all about a strong technology and product platform.
In late March, SoloPower Co-Founder, President, & CEO Homayoun Talieh joined The SOLAR 2.0: BEYOND SILICON PANEL DISCUSSION: Challenges & Opportunities in Thin [...]
[San Francisco, California USA]
Looking for solar amongst the Green:Net
Last Tuesday, the Green:Net 09 conference cast its net and Wi-Fi over the Golden Gate Club located on The Presidio in San Francisco. Green:Net, Where Green and Networks Meet, was billed by Earth2Tech, part of [...]
At the former AstroPower facility in Delaware.
Lack of Ecomagination?
I first heard this now confirmed rumor from a confidential source yesterday.
GE Solar, part of GE Energy and in turn a business unit of the General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), has laid off [...]
Schmid Silicon Technology polysilicon production activities discontinued.
Solar Grade Silicon development cooperation with Solarvalue terminated.
Since I started asking Sunways AG (FRA:SWW) questions about Schmid Silicon Technology: Schwarze Pumpe production delayed until 2010, “Sunways AG: Projects with Schmid and Solarvalue discontinued” was the [...]
“Schmid Pilot Production GmbH (SPP) delayed to optimize the process flow and to react on actual market conditions.”
From SST at PHOTON’s 7th Solar Silicon ConferenceAs I tweeted earlier this month, Schmid Silicon Technology GmbH (SST) CEO Alexander Berg (please see “Alexander [...]
SolarHype (Solar Hype) gets practical to deliver real value to solar installations.
Is PowerString the real SolarMagic?
With “National Semiconductor Acquires Act Solar, Extending Its Solar Energy Efficiency and Management Capabilities”, National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM) purchased a string [...]
Stealthy company marks the milestone with an updated corporate presentation.
Q & A with RSI Silicon Founder, President & CEO Steve Amendola
Last week, a Photovoltaic Industry connection brought the latest RSI Silicon news to my attention. Under News and Upcoming Events, the RSI Silicon [...]
“Barnett and Stiner agreed to permanent injunctions; payment of civil penalties in the amount of $65,000 and $40,000, respectively; and other sanctions.”
The long, sad tale of photovoltaic manufacturer AstroPower winds down?
It has been a while since I posted AstroPower Saga Continues: Fraud Claims [...]
Project proposed by the Helios Energy Partners, LLC, consortium including KRS Energy, SolFocus, and an unnamed financial company.
Although “SolFocus and Samaras Expand Solar Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) Project in Greece from 1.6MW to 10MW” was announced on Monday, a bigger project progressed forward in Pueblo, Colorado USA, last week.
[...]
