Date: 2010-03-08, 8:36PM PST
Reply to: job-hkkp3-1635330476@craigslist.org

If you want to capitalize on the wonderful incentives and rebates, this is the year to do so. Can you close deals? Do you know the Palm Springs area? Then you might be able to make lots of deals and lots of money in the next couple of months. The economy is bad,,but solar is great! Call me at 951-224-1493 now!

Location: Palm Springs/Desert

• Compensation: commission
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
• Please, no phone calls about this job!

TORONTO--(Marketwire - March 8, 2010) - Atlantic Wind and Solar Inc. (PINKSHEETS: AWSL) is pleased to report that negotiations with several Green Energy funding companies are advancing toward finalizing a financing that would fund AWSL's current activities, including numerous JV Ontario rooftop solar projects, production ramp up of the Company's outstanding Inverters/Converters, continued aggressive marketing across Ontario, and potential entry into new markets where the Company's systems would enjoy similar competitive advantages as those being realized here in Ontario.

Satisfactory Financing Agreement Anticipated
Pertaining to its ongoing negotiations to complete the largest financing in AWSL's history, the Company has received Letters Of Intent from two of Ontario's leading Green Energy funding companies to negotiate a proposed $120 million+ financing. Both funding companies are strong participants in the emerging solar energy boom in Ontario. As well, AWSL is involved in advanced negotiations regarding a $75 million debt financing from a multinational energy company that is aggressively expanding its participation in the Renewable Energy sector. While these proposed financings are in the negotiation stages and there is no agreement on final terms as yet, AWSL management is optimistic that one or more significant financings will be completed in the weeks ahead.

AWSL ... Poised for Growth
The acceleration of orders, financing, and other developments in the last few months augurs well for Atlantic Wind and Solar's business and overall growth in 2010. The Company intends to further expand in 2010 through strategically targeted acquisitions. AWSL is in advanced discussions regarding a new global distribution network focused on both the American and European markets. Atlantic Wind and Solar Inc. is also involved in discussions regarding additional technologies and prospective agreements aimed at broadening the Company's exposure to growth in the multibillion dollar Renewable Energy industry, both at home and abroad.

Sales and Marketing Contacts
Property owners and managers with unobstructed commercial rooftops of 30,000 s/f or bigger in the Province of Ontario, Canada, and for which they are interested in possibly leasing to AWSL, are invited to contact Mr. Charles Mazzacato ext. 230. All other Renewable Energy system enquiries are asked to contact Mr. Gilles Trahan +1 800 891 1657 ext. 221.

LUXEMBOURG, March 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- On 3 March 2010, Enovos Luxembourg SA and Avelar Energy Ltd. (based in Zurich), signed a contract to form a joint venture under the name 'Aveleos S.A.'. The objective of this new company, which is headquartered in Luxembourg, is to develop, operate and bring to the market photovoltaic plants in Italy and France with a total capacity of up to 95 MW.

Enovos Luxembourg SA is a 59% shareholder in the new company with an investment of EUR 36 million. Avelar is investing EUR 25 million, giving it a 41% stake. Aveleos SA makes use of attractive feed-in tariffs and high sun intensity in Italy and France. With this investment, Enovos Luxembourg underlines its commitment to the field of renewable energies. 'The joint venture with Avelar Energy is a strategic partnership that allows us to build on our experience in the field of photovoltaics,' says CEO of Enovos Luxembourg, Jean Lucius. 'We're also delighted that the headquarters of the new company will be in Luxembourg.' Enovos commissioned a photovoltaic park with an output of 6 MW near Trier in November last year.

Besides the majority stake in Aveleos, Enovos Luxembourg will acquire 11 photovoltaic parks with an energy output of 1 MW each from Avelar Energy. The plants, which are all located in the region of Apulia, Italy, will go into operation later this year.

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., March 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- XsunX, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: XSNX), the developer of advanced, thin-film photovoltaic (TFPV) solar cell technologies and manufacturing processes, today announced the company has reached a significant milestone in its development process: the completion of a co-evaporation processing chamber design that combines several thermal evaporation techniques in one unified process to produce the CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide) solar cell's absorber layer.

"This development is crucial to both the equipment and process technology side of our efforts," said Tom Djokovich, CEO of XsunX, Inc. "The completion of this chamber converges several operations that we have been developing separately, allowing all of the processes necessary to produce the CIGS layer for our cross-industry technology to work in unison. This development increases the rate with which we can develop this new technology towards our initial baseline commercialization goals. This is a fundamental next step in our plan to commercialize our hybrid CIGS manufacturing process, and deliver a potential replacement solution for the use of silicon."

The hybrid cross-industry system XsunX is developing is an integrated delivery method that uses proven material handling and automation technologies from the Hard Disk equipment (HD) industry and adapts them to small-area thin-film photovoltaic (TFPV) co-evaporation processes to configure the absorber layer, or solar power conversion portion of the cell, to produce low cost solar cells. The chamber will process 125 mm x 125 mm production-sized substrates that the company anticipates will be replicated as the key component of a full commercial production toolset, after additional testing of the chamber itself.

"This integration of numerous processing technologies into a single chamber design will allow us to begin testing the value of hard disk material handling and systems management technologies," said XsunX's CTO Robert Wendt. "From the start, we envisioned this chamber as the key to our ability to viably produce commercial quantities of CIGS solar cells using small-area processing techniques."

Mr. Wendt further added, "We believe that a key component to our success lies in our use of the co-evaporation process on individual small-area substrates, or wafers similar in size to silicon wafers, to produce the solar absorbing portion of the solar cell."

Co-evaporation has been at the forefront of technology development efforts at institutes worldwide such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL) here in the USA, and other renowned agencies including the Institute of Energy Conversion/University of Delaware and Stuttgart in Germany. Each of these agencies has achieved world class efficiency conversion capability utilizing co-evaporation techniques.

Chamber completion is the result of experimentation and design modifications to both equipment and process technology, and in addition to being the foundation on which XsunX will continue to build its technology, also serves as a distinguishing advancement in the company's intellectual capital portfolio. "From the beginning, we envisioned the completion of the chamber design, and its co-evaporation system, as a differentiating feat of the scientific team - a demonstration of their engineering and development prowess," noted Djokovich.

BAODING, China, March 8 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE) ("Yingli Green Energy" or the "Company"), a leading solar energy company and one of the world's largest vertically integrated photovoltaic manufacturers, which holds the brand "Yingli Solar," today announced a 300 MW PANDA mono-crystalline silicon-based manufacturing capacity expansion project at its Baoding headquarters. The Company also announced a project loan of RMB 1.5 billion for the financing of this expansion project and a working capital credit facility of RMB 250 million, both granted by the Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., Hebei Branch ("BOCOM").

300 MW PANDA Mono-Crystalline Manufacturing Capacity Expansion at Baoding Headquarters

Yingli Green Energy announced its plan to build PANDA mono-crystalline silicon-based manufacturing lines with annual production capacity of 300 MW in each of mono-crystalline ingots and wafers, cells and modules at its Baoding headquarters, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Yingli Energy (China) Co., Ltd. ("Yingli China"). The new production lines will be designed to produce next-generation high efficiency PV cells based on the technology developed through Project PANDA, a collaboration among Yingli Green Energy, the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, a leading solar research center in Europe, and Amtech Systems, Inc. ( ASYS), a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of PV cells.

RMB 1.5 Billion Project Loan and RMB 250 Million Working Capital Credit Facility Granted by BOCOM

Yingli Green Energy also announced Yingli China has secured a project loan of RMB 1.5 billion and a working capital credit facility of RMB 250 million from BOCOM. Under the loan agreement, BOCOM has agreed to provide to Yingli China, subject to certain conditions, a five-year project loan of RMB 1.5 billion to support Yingli China's 300 MW expansion project in Baoding. In addition, BOCOM also granted a working capital credit facility of RMB 250 million to Yingli China.

"Shared anticipation of global PV industry growth, the robust flow of orders and inquiries that we have already received in 2010 and our global growth strategy are the main motivations for this strategic capacity expansion plan," said Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and CEO of Yingli Green Energy. "We believe this expansion will allow us to meet the increasing demand for our bankable, cost-effective products and further drive down costs through increased cell conversion efficiency and the larger scale of manufacturing. On the Project PANDA pilot line, we have already successfully produced next-generation cells with an average efficiency rate of 18% or higher. Looking ahead, we expect to increase the average efficiency rate to at least 18.5% on the commercial production lines by the end of this year. Combined with the existing 600 MW production capacity in Baoding and the 100 MW capacity under construction in Hainan Province, this new expansion project is expected to bring our total production capacity to 1 GW by the end of 2010. With this expansion in place, we will be better positioned than ever to solidify our leadership in the global PV market."

BRANCHBURG, N.J.March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Barry I. Skoultchi, P.E., today announced the formation of Pro-Tech Energy Solutions LLC, a self-funded turnkey energy services company offering a wide array of energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy offerings to the Mid-Atlantic region's commercial facilities looking to save money on utility costs.

As a complete turnkey company, Pro-Tech customizes the appropriate financing package to optimally balance each customer's resources, expectations and return on investment while maintaining direct control over the entire design and construction process. This service approach not only assures the client their project will be executed with the highest attention to detail but also an unsurpassed standard of quality in the company's five specialty areas, which include:

• Energy efficiency evaluations and recommendations based on energy monitoring
• Photovoltaic (PV) system design, engineering, and installation
• Energy monitoring selection, installation and system commissioning
• Management and coordination of state and federal grant applications
• Assistance in the long and short-term management and sale of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC)

"The upfront costs of installing energy-saving upgrades, such as solar panels and efficient lighting, present a daunting barrier to entry for public and private commercial property owners, especially schools and other municipal?run facilities," said Skoultchi, Pro-Tech's President. "Recognizing this market inefficiency, Pro-Tech is creating a paradigm shift within the industry by allowing clients to make investments in energy upgrades with no upfront costs. This is possible by creating customized funding plans that maximize available federal, state and local rebates, tax credits and other incentives, augmented by funds secured by Pro-Tech."

The company's five partners, Gary Chernowetz, John Drexinger, John Martin, Paul Shust and Tom Ryan, draw upon decades of experience to provide Pro-Tech customers with true turnkey services in this emerging field.

"As the U.S. undertakes an unprecedented ramp-up of efficiency funding, offering $25 billion in energy efficiency programs through federal stimulus funds, companies nationwide are prospering from increasing energy efficiency and installing renewable energy, even in challenging times," said John Drexinger, Principal, Pro-Tech Energy Solutions. "But building this new energy economy requires private investment and a new way of doing business. Pro-Tech is leading the way with its self-funded financial model that provides direct access to much-needed capital funds."

Individual client savings vary depending on a number of factors including local energy rates, type of facility, hours of operation and level of business activity. The company's self-funded model allows clients to minimize financial risks by paying a portion of the savings results over the contract term.

"Existing buildings consume more than 70% of electricity and produce more than a third of the greenhouse gas pollution in the U.S.," said Drexinger. "We believe our finance model will help streamline the market and enable the rapid adoption of energy efficient upgrades. It is Pro-Tech's mission to help our clients understand that financial resources exist to help make energy upgrades as good for business as they are for the environment."

SANTA CLARITA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BioSolar, Inc. (OTCBB:BSRC), developer of a breakthrough technology to produce bio-based materials from renewable plant sources that reduce the cost of photovoltaic solar modules, today announced plans for an extended line of BioBacksheets used to protect PV modules compatible with conventional c-Si PV modules.

Conventional c-Si Photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturers will soon have two different types of BioBacksheets to choose from depending on their durability and cost requirements: 1) a multi-layer BioBacksheet-C for conventional applications and 2) a new mono-layer BioBacksheet product line for premium applications. These products were developed to meet the existing and future direct needs of potential customers.

The announcement represents the latest addition to a broad and growing portfolio of bio-based backsheet materials made from renewable plant sources that reduce the cost of solar modules and eliminate the need for dangerous toxins found in petroleum based backsheets currently in use.

Hailed by Design News as one of the ?companies developing plastics from sustainable resources, such as plants not used as food sources, for photovoltaic cells, which are on the verge of an explosive growth burst,? BioSolar recognizes the key to success is providing manufacturers various backsheet grades with corresponding price points to accommodate both the durability and economic requirements of each solar panel manufacturer.

The premium grade BioBacksheet will also feature monolayer construction, which eliminates the inner de-lamination issue associated with incumbent petroleum based backsheets, drastically improving its long term durability over traditional multi-layer backsheet construction. All grades of BioBacksheet will be less costly than their petroleum-based counterparts.

?As the global demand for solar energy continues to increase, BioSolar is uniquely positioned to replace conventional petroleum-based backsheets for c-Si PV modules which represent more than 70 percent of the PV module market,? said Dr. David Lee, CEO of BioSolar. ?Though it is generally expected to take time for a brand new PV component like BioBacksheet to reach a revenue stage, a complete line up of BioBacksheets will not only help BioSolar achieve meaningful revenue more rapidly, but expanding our line to better suit the practical and economical needs of manufacturers is yet another example of how BioSolar is innovating to make solar power a more viable and eco-friendlier alternative energy option.?

In a February 23, 2010 article on The Green Economy , Dr. Lee notes that ?solar cells themselves are unlikely to see dramatic cost reductions while the ?non-active materials? that support the cells?are ripe for the kind of cost reduction that could make solar competitive even without government subsidies.? The article calls his remarks ?supported by a new report from Lux Research, Driving Down Solar Costs: Non-active Material Opportunities, which noted that while active semiconductor materials get a lot of attention, the ?lesser-known non-active materials significantly impact module efficiency, and account for 15% to 48% of module manufacturing costs.?

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SunLink® Corporation today announced that its industry-leading roof module mounting solution has begun shipping for one of the nation?s largest municipal solar installation, a five megawatt project located on the Sunset Reservoir in San Francisco, California. Chosen by Recurrent Energy, an independent power producer and a leading developer of solar power projects, SunLink?s solution will be used to mount over 23,000 Suntech (NYSE:STP) solar modules on the flat, seismically retrofitted rooftop of the Reservoir.

?We are pleased to have been awarded this project, particularly given its magnitude and advancement of the City of San Francisco?s renewable energy goals,? said Christopher Tilley, CEO, SunLink. ?Our flagship roof mounting solution is one of the most widely adopted in the industry due to our extensive engineering, design expertise, and ability to work within a project?s constraints such as this one, which required no penetrations in the Reservoir?s roof surface.?

?We have worked in cooperation with SunLink on numerous solar projects and we continue to be impressed with their value-added services and reliable mounting technology,? said Arno Harris, CEO, Recurrent Energy. ?We look forward to furthering our relationship with SunLink throughout the development of this large distributed-scale solar power installation.?

Upon completion in the Fall this year, the Sunset Reservoir project will more than triple the municipal solar generation in San Francisco and reduce carbon emissions by over 100,000 metric tons. The solar plant is being developed and operated under a Power Purchase Agreement between the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and Recurrent Energy. The clean solar electricity will be fed into the distribution grid and used by the General Hospital, San Francisco International Airport, Muni light rail, public schools throughout the city, and streetlights.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT), the global leader in Nanomanufacturing Technology? solutions for the semiconductor, flat panel display and solar industries, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a 17% increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.07 per share, payable on June 16, 2010 to stockholders of record as of May 26, 2010. Previously, the quarterly cash dividend was $0.06 per share.

Applied's Board also approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing up to $2 billion in repurchases over the next three years ending in March 2013.

?Applied?s strong financial position and operating cash flow enable us to invest in growth opportunities throughout our businesses as well as return cash to stockholders,? said Mike Splinter, chairman and chief executive officer. ?Today?s dividend increase reflects our confidence in the company?s near and long-term prospects for growth and profitability. The buyback program provides a flexible means to return excess cash to shareholders.?

As of January 31, 2010, Applied Materials had approximately 1.34 billion shares of common stock outstanding.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Evolution Solar Corp. (PinkSheets:EVSO) announced that the Energy Committee of the National Black Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the current solar demonstration project being developed and constructed by Evolution Solar and Texas Southern University at the university?s Houston campus. The Company was informed that the project received this endorsement due to the university?s history and status as a Historical Black University and EVSO?s past performance in minority executive advancement.

?We are very proud to be a part of receiving this distinguished national business endorsement,? stated Robert Hines, President of Evolution Solar. ?We will make every effort to continue achieving our leading edge goals in minority business development.?

The National Black Chamber of Commerce is headquartered in Washington DC and is dedicated to economically empowering and sustaining African American communities through entrepreneurship and capitalistic activity within the US. The NBCC continually remains on the forefront of shaping commercial policy in the US and carries an influential membership, including industry leaders such as Exxon, Wells Fargo and AT&T.

The TSU demonstration installation should help Evolution Solar in competing with larger sector players such as First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL), Suntech Power (NYSE: STP) and SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA).

SolarWorld, the largest solar manufacturer in the United States, has entered a landmark deal to be the primary jersey sponsor of the Portland Timbers, a professional soccer team in Portland, Oregon. Soccer, the most dominant sport in the world (outside of North America), is nothing new to SolarWorld, but the deal with the Timbers marks the first-ever sponsorship by a solar company of a soccer team in the U.S.

SolarWorld has three manufacturing plants on the West Coast, with its US headquarters and a 500-megawatt manufacturing plant located in Hillsboro, Ore. just west of Portland. The company, which originated in Germany, will be the Timbers' jersey sponsor for 2010.

?We pride ourselves on being a green organization ? not just our colors ? and partnering with a preeminent sustainable company like SolarWorld is a no-brainer,? said Timbers President Merritt Paulson in a press release. The Timbers, now a member of the North American Soccer League, will become a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise in 2011.

SolarWorld's other activities in the soccer arena include a marketing agreement with Lucas Podolski of the German team, FC Cologne, as well as providing solar power to a community studio in Africa that will broadcast the 2010 FIFA World Cup to local residents. The latter project is part of the company's Solar2World program that helps bring solar power to developing countries.

?Soccer is the most international sport,? said Boris Klebensberger, President and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. branch of SolarWorld. ?As a renewable-energy company involved in every major solar market, it's only fitting for us to help support the sport in and around our various sites, including near our U.S. headquarters in Hillsboro.?

Photo Credit: Portland Timbers

Members and supporters of Arizona's fledgling solar industry are breathing a sigh of relief after a bill was withdrawn that would have revised the state's renewable portfolio standard. Just last year, Arizona passed landmark legislation creating tax credits for solar manufacturers and in no time, international solar giant Suntech Power Holdings decided to build a plant in Goodyear, which the Chinese company threatened to abandon if H.B. 2701 was left in place.

State Rep. Debbie Lesko of Glendale authored, then withdrew H.B. 2701. The bill would have amended Arizona's RPS to allow nuclear and hydroelectric power to count as renewable resources and enabled utilities to ignore its requirements if it meant higher costs for customers. Currently, and apparently in the foreseeable future, Arizona's RPS requires utilities to get 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2025. Given the Grand Canyon state's incredible solar resources, it stands to reason that much of that power would come from solar panels.

However, if Lesko's bill, which passed committee by a 5-2 vote, had somehow made it through the state legislature, it would have effectively killed solar power in Arizona. For instance, Arizona Public Service, the state's largest utility, already gets 27 percent of its energy from nuclear power and would already meet RPS goals without adding a watt of solar energy.

Dismal prospects such as that lit a fire under Arizona's solar movement when the bill made it into legislative play. Suntech, SolarCity and many other solar companies and proponents cried foul, putting enough pressure on Rep. Lesko to force her to withdraw her own bill. The ensuing wave of criticism sent Arizona legislators in general on the defensive.

House Speaker Kirk Adams and Governor Jan Brewer reportedly played a part in crushing the bill. Both have since issued statements reaffirming Arizona's dedication to solar power. Many in the state are concerned that the mere existence of H.B. 2701 may damage the state's solar industry, which is still trying to gain a foothold, by shaking the confidence of potential investors and manufacturers.

Suntech's planned solar manufacturing plant will employ 70 people, in addition to temporary construction jobs. SolarCity, the fast-growing solar leasing and installation company, plans to double its workforce of 50 in the next year now that the bill has been pulled.

Sources: AZCentral and AZ Daily Sun

Photo Credit: SolarCity

One of the hardest things about working for an environmental cause is that there's so much scary news?

Some of you who attended the 2009 Solar-Powered Film Series probably remember the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the infamous collection of tiny plastic particles in the Pacific ocean that's twice the size of Texas (featured in the film Addicted to Plastic). Others may have been alarmed at the sharp rise in the ocean acidification and its deleterious effect on marine wildlife- including wildlife in our own food supply!- depicted in A Sea Change. But this story from Yahoo! is somehow even more terrifying: the oceans have now been found to be losing oxygen.

According to the article, there are some areas of the Pacific, particularly off the coasts of Oregon and Washington, that have become completely oxygen-depleted, or hypoxic. Although areas of hypoxia in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans have long been observed, the new trends show the hypoxic areas growing, and greater overall hypoxia all over the globe seems to have become the norm. While Southern California's levels of oceanic oxygen have declined 20% over the last 25 years, in some places deoxygenation is happening even faster- up to 33% over 50 years!

Hypoxia is a serious problem, killing sea life that our food chain depends on; also, the process of decomposition requires oxygen (decomposition is basically oxygenation), so the dying creatures are speeding up the process in much the same way that melting permafrost releases even more sequestered carbon dioxide, exacerbating the problem of global warming. You can also look at a graph of ocean hypoxia over the decades HERE! And read about the likely results of hypoxia and its link to global climate change HERE!

Filed under: Hybrid, Solar, North America

Aside from word that the Nissan Leaf was headed for Mexico City and that Mexico was thinking about exempting hybrids from registration taxes, most of the green car news from our neighbor to the south has to do with biofuels. Today, though we have what are apparently the first sketches of two new concept cars from PRO-AMX also known as Proyectos Automotrices Mexicanos or Mexican Automotive Projects. Pictured above is the SGT-HC (Sport Grand Tourism - Hybrid Copper) and after the jump you can find PRO-AMX's Solar City vehicle.

Our Spanish is rudimentary at best, but reader Toto sent in a translation of this announcement that explains that PRO-AMX was started in 2008 to bring Mexico-developed vehicles to market. Last November, we saw drawings of PRO-AMX's first vehicle, the 4x4 Cimex Conin, released. The new renderings focus on style and efficiency, with the 2+2 seat SGT-HG using a 4-cylinder engine and electric motor, "which uses plates of copper integrated to the body (isolated externally by means of polycarbonate) to obtain a greater conductivity in the electrical system." The Solar City is a true urban vehicle that apparently get all of its energy from the sun. Maybe the next concept will include a Mr. Fusion? Thanks to Toto for the tip and translation!

[Source: Conceptogt]

Continue reading First sketches released of PRO-AMX sports hybrid, solar city concept cars

First sketches released of PRO-AMX sports hybrid, solar city concept cars originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Isolating the minute crystals of the PSI super complex from the pea plant, a biochemistry researcher suggests these crystals can be illuminated and used as small battery chargers or form the core of more efficient man-made solar cells.

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Solar, Transportation Alternatives, USA

There's no doubt that solar energy is one of the greenest sources of electricity and the idea of using it to power transportation is not new. We've seen solar-powered boats and solar-powered cars before, among other things, but we didn't know until now that a solar-powered high-speed train was on anyone's drawing board. Apparently, it is.

Conceived as a means of zero-carbon high-speed mass transit, the Solar Bullet would travel between Tucson and Phoenix, AZ at 220 miles per hour, cutting travel times from two and a half hours (in traffic) to just 30 minutes. Taking advantage of the high amount of solar irradiance in the American Southwest, the tracks would be covered by a huge solar array to provide it with the necessary power. The SolarBullet Campaign aims to increase awareness and support among Arizonians and build a team of university experts, engineers and transit specialists to move this project further down the line. Feel free to hit them up on Facebook or follow their Twitter feed to offer your own encouragement and keep track of the initiative.

[Source: SolarBullet Campaign]

SolarBullet Campaign shoots for high-speed solar train originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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German boat building team Knierim Yachtbau has built the largest solar powered boat in existence. Called "PlanetSolar" this boat is skippered and managed by Raphael Domjan and Gerard d'Aboville. The boat debuted last month and the planned official launch is in April of this year. The boat cost $24 Million to build.

The boat is a Catamaran that measures 100 ft x 50 ft., can get the speed up to 15 knots and holds up to 50 passengers. It's multihulled and is topped with 500m of photovoltaic solar panels

PlanetSolar has an interesting futuristic shape and was 13 months in the boatyard being constructed and designed. The boat building team wants PlanetSolar to further solar power technology using unique design and technological advances no watercraft has seen to date.

Immo Ströher, owner of the multi-hull boat, wanted above all to emphasise the technological significance of the event: "Each step in the PlanetSolar project is a step further in the technological development of renewable energy sources. Thanks to ambitious projects like this scientific research is making progress."

PlanetSolar will be on a world tour which is planned to launch in 2011.

Main site and info including signing up for their newsletter can be found here at PlanetSolar.org.

Here's a nice slideshow of the unveiling in Feb. '10 at PlanetSolar.

SunRun is happy to announce that for the first time ever, New Jersey homeowners can go solar for $0 down!  Now, with SunRun, New Jersey homeowners can get their home solar panels installed for free and start saving money immediately with SunRun power plans.

We're so excited about the news and the fact that now, every New Jersey homeowner who wants home solar can now afford it.  Since SunRun began offering home solar in New Jersey earlier this year, we've partnered with trusted, local installers Mercury Solar Systems and Trinity Solar, and signed numerous New Jersey homeowners.  We are confident that this will bring us closer to our mission of making solar affordable to every home in the country.

The hottest thing in alternative energy right now is the Bloom Box. That clever, standalone fuel cell that its creators say could erase the need for grid-tied energy systems, power lines and even utilities. Since its revelation on 60 Minutes last month, followed by a much-hyped presentation at eBay headquarters in Silicon Valley, the Bloom Box has received a lot of attention. Enough, you would think, to make utilities nervous. After all, they can't very well make money if nobody's connected to their electric grid.

Pish-posh, says Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), a major investor-owned utility serving northern California and a leader in renewable energy. CEO Peter Darbee insists that the release of the Bloom Box does not signal the end of the utility. Bloom Energy, maker of the Bloom Box, wants to see one of their models in every home and business, thus annihilating utilities. Darbee countered that notion by simply pointing to costs. He says the Bloom Box is more expensive than solar power and other renewable resources and therefore has little chance of driving utilities into oblivion.

Darbee noted that there is still a big gap between current electricity prices and the prices that Bloom Energy was suggesting on 60 Minutes. Solar power costs are dropping and, while Bloom may be able to bring costs down eventually, as yet the electricity prices that Bloom is able to offer its customers are much more expensive than other renewables.

Bloom Boxes are fuel cells that use ceramic disks and special black ?inks? to convert hydrocarbons (typically methane) and oxygen into usable energy. eBay has five of the boxes installed at its headquarters and claims to have saved some $100,000 on energy costs in just nine months. Bloom Energy bills their boxes as cheaper than solar power, a statement that PG&E shrugs off as simply not true? at least not in California. Darbee added that he expects to see ?incursions? of fuel cell technology, but in no way is that a harbinger of demise for the utility.

Via San Francisco Business Times

Photo Credit: mocha gala & Christian Science Monitor

You know what the world needs? A plug-in hybrid that can go from 0-60 mph in three seconds. Soon, fast-driving, sports-car-loving greeners may be able to enjoy the fast lane guilt-free with Porsche's new plug-in hybrid concept car. Unveiled the night before the Geneva Auto Show, the Spyder 918 allegedly has a 500 horsepower V-8 engine and can hit 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, all while getting 78 miles to the gallon. A pair of electric motors offer another 218 horsepower.

If it sounds strange that a 500 hp motor could get 78 mpg, join the club. All we have to work on in terms of performance stats is what Porsche and its parent Volkswagon are telling us ? not to imply that they are deliberately misleading us. The concept is actually quite exciting; such a high-powered hybrid could make waves in the auto industry. But it is still a concept, and how it translates into reality remains to be seen. Although, Porsche's chairman was careful to point out at the unveiling that his company has yet to make a concept car that it didn't take to production.

It seems unlikely that the real Spyder's performance stats will live up to the concept, but even if it comes close, it will definitely have an impact. Apparently, the concept car can go only 16 miles on electricity alone, so the vast majority of power and drive must come from gasoline. To me, that means Porsche must've really tweaked their engine to squeeze 78 miles per gallon out of it. The technology is fascinating. I have no doubt that if the Spyder 918 becomes reality, 1 percent of the world's population that can afford it will definitely enjoy the ride. Look out, LA freeways!

Via Treehugger

Photo Credit: Automoblog & CNET

Researchers have found a better way to trap light in photovoltaic cells through the use of vertical arrays of silicon nanowires. This could substantially cut the costs of solar electric power by reducing the quantity and quality of silicon needed for efficient solar panels.

Yuma, Arizona (March 2, 2010) PPA Partners, Inc. and Arizona Western College announced an historic collaboration on March 2nd, for a 5 MW multi technology solar project on Arizona Western College?s Yuma Campus. The 5 MW deployment deemed ?Solar with a Purpose?, will be comprised of the five commercially viable PV technologies, all optimized by tracking and state of the art Inverters, installed by the same EPC so that the installation and the Balance Of System (BOS) will as well, be identical.The 5 representative technologies are High Concentration Solar, Low Concentration Solar, Thin Film, Mono Crystalline, and Poly Crystalline.

Technology Partners are still being finalized but Sol Focus, Skyline Solar, Signet Solar, Del Solar, Canadian Solar, Ray Tracker and Satcon are all in discussions with PPA Partners for inclusion in the Project.

?We know of no other solar project where all 5 technologies are showcased at utility scale, installed by the same group, at the same time with the same equipment, tracked and optimized, under the best solar resource in the Country? the data generated by the project should be very interesting.? Stated Bruce Mercy, CEO of PPA Partners of Morgan Hill, California.

?From the multiple technologies that will keep pace with changes in the industry, to the constant data that will be available both in the classroom and to manufacturers, this array has the potential to not only change the face of the economy in Yuma, but to impact solar education and research on a national and global level,? said Arizona Western College President Dr. Marc Nigliazzo.

?Draker Laboratories will provide the monitoring system for the project and in conjunction with Satcon?s Solstice Inverters; we should be able to get to a level of detail unheard of in commercial systems. The data generated from the project will be comprised of meteorological, solar resource, energy harvest, and a host of other information from cell temperature, to string level views, and be extremely valuable to researchers, manufacturers, utilities and other entities?, added Mercy.

The array at the College will be the largest at a College or University, and will provide the College with 100% of its power from clean on site generation.

Additionally they are developing a solar demonstration/incubation area where emergent technologies, manufacturers, researchers, and industry can place a 20 kW system in a private secured enclosure, complete with video feeds, and identical BOS components from the larger project, and even staff to help work with the technology for optimization. Monitoring would as well be from Draker Labs.

?Access to the data from the main 5 MW field will only be available to those participating in the Project, the College, Select Research Groups and those that have a space at the demonstration/incubation area. Yuma has the greatest solar resource in the US, what better place to demonstrate solar and test technology than the area with 352 sun days per year, even the Guinness Book of World Records lists Yuma as having the most sun days and hours?, stated Mercy.

In addition, they are working on a cutting edge solar curriculum, with certificate, AA, BA/BS and continuing educational and advancement courses and components, and a 10,000 sq ft Commercial Scale Solar Technology Lab and Facility.

?Not only will this collaboration present a great opportunity to the Yuma community, it will also open opportunities for universities around the world to partner and collaborate with Arizona Western College through joint curriculum as well as research and development. It is not possible to duplicate the solar resource available in Yuma at say UC Berkeley, MIT or U of I.? said Mark Weiss, president of PPA Partners.

?PPA Partners and Arizona Western College, hope to present a new model on how we transition to a renewable energy economy with significant export positions and to help America train a new workforce and assist and incubate American Technologies to successfully compete in the new Global economy.? Added Mercy.

PPA Partners is in the process of negotiating with its financial partners and anticipates final funding for the project in the next 60 days.

PPA Partners is a technologically agnostic PPA and creative funding solution company offering comprehensive programs across the entire renewable energy development and financing value chain, specializing in innovative technologies, uniquely structured projects and specialty financial products.

BERLIN and TOKYO, March 5, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Japanese solar company Showa Shell Solar has announced a new investment in Germany. Along with the company's renaming to Solar Frontier, the CIS (copper-indium-selenium) photovoltaic module manufacturer will open its first European office in Munich in 2010. Germany Trade & Invest supported the company with its investment plans.

Aiming to ramp up production to reach a sales goal of 1 million kilowatts worldwide in 2012, the Munich office, alongside a new American counterpart in California, will play an integral role in achieving this mark. The company's production figures will increase by more than ten times its current level, strengthened by an additional plant that will begin production in mid-2011.

Solar Frontier CEO Shigeaki Kameda: "The German priority on both economic and ecological criteria precisely matches Solar Frontier's top design and production mandates. Germany is also the world's largest market, so we have three very critical reasons to invest here: the German priority on economy, the German priority on ecology, and the German market size. We therefore expect to fulfill very strong demand."

Solar Frontier's decision to invest in Germany also serves it well for access to growing photovoltaic markets across Europe. Germany is home to approximately half the solar modules in operation worldwide, based on recent industry estimates. This market continues to grow as 2009 installations exceeded expectations, likely surpassing 3.0 GW.

Germany is home to the largest solar cluster in the world that encompasses a wide range of manufacturers, suppliers, and research institutes. Together, these innovators create a synergy that has added photovoltaics to the long tradition of the "Made in Germany" label, a symbol for high quality and innovation.

Solar Frontier manufactures proprietary thin-film modules that substitute silicon with the key ingredients copper, indium, and selenium. The company benefits from competitive material prices compared to conventional silicon wafer-based modules. The thin-film modules are expected to reach a 14.2 percent efficiency level by 2011. Solar Frontier was assisted by Germany Trade & Invest and Invest in Bavaria, the economic development agency for the federal state of Bavaria. Germany Trade & Invest is currently showcasing the latest opportunities available in the world's largest solar market at this year's PV Expo (East Hall 4, Stand no. 26-22), taking place March 3 - 5 in Tokyo, Japan.

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities to the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

PALM DESERT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Energy Limited (OTCBB: SLRE) (?Solar?) announced today that it has been evaluating various options for moving forward, not only in the field of renewable energy but also in other opportune sectors of today?s economy.

Solar has spent much of the last 12 years involved in a variety of development stage R&D projects. The company is now focused on opportunities that are more advanced in nature. Solar has identified two opportunities that it is now investigating and the success of each will be dependent on its ability to raise the funding necessary to finance the transactions.

Solar has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of a private company operating as Solar Electric (formerly Discover Power). The transaction includes entering into management contracts with the 2 founders of Solar Electric who have been in the business of providing Solar Solutions to a wide variety of customers for over 15 years. The ultimate aim is to have retail outlets where the customer can in one stop have someone design and install a solar system for his home or business including filling out any Government grants/rebates and buy back agreements with the utility companies.

The second opportunity identified is that Solar has been presented with an offer to finance and acquire certain mining assets from Pelaton Mining, Inc. The property is a large alluvial gold deposit in SE Tanzania. Some $2.1M for exploration costs has been spent on the property and a 43.101 geological report is available. $3M is needed to place into production a facility that will process 4000 m³/day averaging 1 gm/m^3.

Both projects are subject to Solar?s ongoing due diligence and its ability to raise the funds necessary to implement the business plans. More information will be forthcoming in due course.

KYOTO, Japan & NEUSS, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Japanese technology corporation Kyocera, one of the leading manufacturers in the photovoltaic field, is bringing a new solar module from the successful KD series onto the market. With its high nominal output, extreme stability under mechanical pressure and optimized junction box, the new KD215GH-2PU fulfils high requirements in every field.

The KD215GH-2PU high-performance module achieves a nominal output of 215 watts at an efficiency of 14.4 per cent under standard test conditions. Compared with the predecessor model, the KD210GH-2PU, Kyocera has again been able to improve the cells, while retaining the same module size, and increase output by 5 watts. The nominal output has a tolerance of only +5/-3 per cent. As a result, the 54 solar cells incorporated in the module guarantee the user a high annual energy yield.

In the contacts for the junction boxes, Kyocera opts for high-quality soldered joints rather than clamped joints, and thus offers dependable protection against fire hazards. If lower quality is employed, defective electrical connections may lead to a fire in the junction box. Soldered connections are the safest form of creating the contact and, in connection with complete encapsulation of the junction box, provide protection against corrosion and overheating. The junction box meets the requirements of the highest non-combustibility rating of 5V-A in compliance with UL94.

A sturdy frame for the module guarantees high mechanical stability: it can withstand a high wind pressure and a snow load of up to 5,400 N/m2.

Kyocera makes all components in its own manufacturing facilities, without buying in any intermediate products ? starting with the processing of the raw material, via cell production, through to module assembly. This guarantees the high quality standards that Kyocera places on its products, ensuring that the KD215GH-2PU delivers maximum quality and reliability as well. All KD modules by Kyocera fulfil the new IEC 61215 ed.2 and IEC 61730 standards.

The KD215GH-2PU is due to be available in Germany as from spring 2010.

David De Rothschild and friends have been tooling around for some time on an ambitious project to build a seaworthy boat out of recycled plastic bottles. Late last week, the crew finally shared their vision, The Plastiki, to the world in San Francisco Bay. The Plastiki will sail 11,000 miles from San Fran to Sydney, Australia to raise awareness about plastics as a pollutant and its value as a recycled product.

The sailboat is made from 12,500 recycled plastic bottles and an innovative, buoyant and exceptionally strong material made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a polyester resin commonly used in plastics. The mast is reclaimed aluminum irrigation pipe and the sail is handmade from recycled PET as well. While engineering the boat, the crew of designers also developed an interesting new organic glue made from cashew nuts and sugar cane ? a product, said De Rothschild to Treehugger, that could remove epoxies from boatbuilding.

It is that spirit of ingenuity that was the inspiration for the Plastiki project. What started out as an idea to build a boat from plastic bottles to raise awareness about plastic in our oceans and landfills (some 80 percent of plastic bottles still reach landfills rather than recycling plants, says De Rothschild) grew into a movement addressing problems and discovering solutions about what we can do with all that plastic floating through our economies, resting in our landfills and bobbing on our waterways.

As if 12,500 recycled plastic bottles didn't make the Plastiki green enough, it is also primarily powered by renewable energy. That includes solar power panels, wind turbines, trailing propeller turbines and bicycle generators. It also uses urine-to-water recovery and rain catchment systems to produce fresh water and even comes equipped with a rotating cylinder hydroponic garden.

Last week, the Plastiki crew christened the boat with a traditional Polynesian ceremony at the Marina in San Francisco. Right now, they are working on final preparations for their trans-Pacific journey. You can track the Plastiki's progress when the voyage does begin at ThePlastiki.com, and I highly recommend watching this video at Treehugger.

The Obama administration has given initial approval for $1.4 billion in federal loan guarantees to help build the world's largest solar power complex in California's Mojave desert. Brightsource Energy's Ivanpah solar complex would consist of three phases (Ivanpah 1, 2 and 3), totaling nearly 400 megawatts of concentrated solar power. Obama's decision to guarantee the loans to build the complex are vital to financing, although the project must still overcome environmental and regulatory hurdles before being built.

The $1.4-billion guarantee is the largest that the Department of Energy has ever offered for solar power. It represents an effort by the US government to ensure American leadership in renewable energy. As Energy Secretary Steven Chu put it, ?We're not going to sit on the sidelines while other countries capture the jobs of the future.? Brightsource Energy estimates that the Ivanpah project, which will cover up to five square miles of desert land, would create about 1,000 temporary construction jobs and 86 permanent jobs in operation and maintenance.

If built to its originally planned capacity, the complex would create enough solar energy to power 140,000 homes. But that is a big IF, as environmental controversy continues to inhibit progress. Despite the loan guarantees, Brightsource Energy must still meet financial requirements and get past state and federal permitting processes (the complex is to be built on publicly owned land).

Environmental groups have been stalling such projects due to concerns over the fate of the notoriously sensitive desert tortoise, an endangered species that would undoubtedly be affected by the destruction of more than 3,000 acres of its habitat. Brightsource recently offered to scale down the complex to leave some vital lands for the tortoise to thrive, but, according to USA Today, groups like the Sierra Club and Defenders of Wildlife still feel that the entire project should be moved elsewhere.

The issue of renewable energy projects versus wildlife habitat has become the most volatile industry within the solar industry. The Department of Interior and the Bureau of Land Management (which administers leases on public lands) are working to designate solar energy zones where power plants and permitting could be fast-tracked, but progress remains slow. The Obama administration's backing of loans for Ivanpah is also a show of support for this and other desert solar projects, but will it make a difference? Brightsource Energy, itself based in California, has at least shown a willingness to compromise, which may give it that extra edge in getting regulatory permission and some wiggle room from environmentalists.

I suppose time will tell. If nothing else, Brightsource should have a much easier time getting financing for Ivanpah ? a sizable $1.4 billion hurdle ? which is certainly a plus. But it doesn't compare to the $8.3 billion in loan guarantees Obama recently offered to help finance two new nuclear power reactors in Georgia.

Via USA Today

Photo Credit: Climate Progress & Phoenix Sun

WOBURN, MA--(Marketwire - March 4, 2010) - Magnolia Solar Corporation (OTCBB: MGLT) ("Magnolia Solar"), a developer of low-cost, thin-film photovoltaic modules used in defense and commercial applications, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary has recently received a $1 million award from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). This award is to develop advanced thin-film solar cells in partnership with the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering ("CNSE") of the University at Albany.

Magnolia Solar has the technology to capture a broader spectrum of the sun's energy and to reduce energy losses due to reflection. This technology uses non-toxic materials on low-cost substrates to produce high-efficiency, low-cost solar cells. Magnolia Solar will work in close collaboration with faculty and scientists from CNSE's Energy and Environmental Technology Applications Center ("E2TAC") at CNSE's Albany NanoTech Complex to demonstrate its technologies in nanostructure-based thin film solar cells. The program, which is designed to improve energy efficiency while reducing production costs, is also being supported by Professor Fred Schubert at RPI. Magnolia Solar has received a NYSERDA order for the first phase of this three-phase development program.

Dr. Ashok K. Sood, President and CEO of Magnolia Solar Corporation, commented, "We are delighted to receive this critical funding from NYSERDA, and to have the opportunity to play a role in providing future energy solutions for New York State. We are committed to growing in the Albany region, supported by the world-class intellectual and technological infrastructure at CNSE's Albany NanoTech Complex." Dr. Sood continued, "Magnolia Solar's mission is to provide environmentally responsible and low-cost solutions for the solar power industry, and to be an integral part of New York's green energy future."

Dr. Pradeep Haldar, CNSE Professor and Head of NanoEngineering and Executive Director of E2TAC, commented, "We look forward to working closely with Magnolia Solar on this innovative clean energy research, which enhances New York's push to accelerate the development of renewable and environmentally friendly energy technologies. This partnership further demonstrates CNSE's growing portfolio in supporting both innovative technologies and companies in the critical alternative energy sector."

Francis J. Murray, Jr., NYSERDA President and CEO, stated, "NYSERDA is pleased to help Magnolia expand their work in New York State. NYSERDA's early-stage investments in innovative, environmentally-friendly technologies offer the promise of new jobs and industries for New York in the future. The new products that result from these investments will help us realize Governor David Paterson's vision for a clean energy economy that uses new and emerging technologies to save energy, create jobs, and improve our environment."

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL--(Marketwire - March 4, 2010) - Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc. (OTCBB: SNRY), with businesses in solar project development, distribution and workforce training, today made an announcement that it has entered into a strategic supply agreement with AET (Alternate Energy Technologies, LLC), a U.S. manufacturer of residential and commercial solar water heating systems.

Through its operating group SNRY Solar, Solar Energy Initiatives, will begin distributing AET's Eagle Sun? and Morningstar? product lines. Established in 1975, AET is one of the top manufacturers of flat plate solar thermal collectors in the U.S. With over 30 collectors and 120 systems fully tested and approved, AET continues to pioneer in the fast-growing solar water heating sector.

"Solar Energy Initiatives is excited to establish a strategic relationship with AET. Complementing our photovoltaic (PV) business model, we see solar water heating as an explosive growth segment in the commercial and residential marketplace," said David Fann, Chief Executive Officer. "AET's strong reputation and long-standing success manufacturing high quality thermal collectors and water heating systems is a natural fit for our distribution division and dealer network."

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), heating water is commonly the third-largest expense in households after space heating and air-conditioning. Solar water heating systems serve as energy and cost saving vehicles for homeowners and commercial building owners in any climate. Many states are adopting policies to drive the adoption of solar water heating. Hawaii has started to require solar water heaters in new construction and many cold climate states like Colorado and New York lead the way for annual installations.

AET President, Billy Byrom, commented on the new relationship with Solar Energy Initiatives, "We are extremely excited to have SNRY Solar as a supply chain partner. The value they bring to solar contractors through their expanded offering of training, marketing, technical support and service is exactly what we are looking for in a distribution partner. Their management team has a strong vision to expand the demand for solar water heating and their business model fills a critical need in the marketplace."

The first phase of the AET supply partnership includes a wholesale distribution agreement, as well as the transition of 20 new dealers to be serviced by SNRY Solar. For more information on AET, please visit www.aetsolar.com.

NORCROSS, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Suniva, Inc., a U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells and modules, today announced the commissioning of the Evergreen Solar Farm in Canton, North Carolina, with partner FLS Energy. Set atop a former landfill, the 555 kW project utilizes high-powered Suniva solar modules and was constructed via a 20-year power purchase agreement from FLS Energy to supply clean energy to the region's Progress Energy customers. The installation went live at a local ceremony on March 1st in which Congressman Health Shuler spoke at the press conference and toured the Evergreen Solar Farm.

?Utilizing Suniva's technology allows FLS to retain our commitment to provide only the most efficient, cost-effective products and offer the best value for our customers,? said Michael Shore, President of FLS Energy. ?The modules are performing extremely well, demonstrating a powerful combination of high-efficiency solar technology and high-quality U.S. manufacturing.?

?The Evergreen Solar Farm provides a shining example of Suniva's prominence in the rapidly expanding renewable energy market of the southeastern U.S. and our ability to meet the growing needs of utility scale customers,? said John Baumstark, CEO of Suniva.