BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR), a global solar company providing capital equipment and turnkey manufacturing lines to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) modules and cells, today announced the introduction of its SPI-Line? 20 megawatt (MW) per year Module Assembly Line at the 25th European PV Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) in Valencia, Spain at the Feria Valencia, located at Level 2, Hall 4, Booth 15.

The SPI-Line 20MW PV Module Assembly Line offers new entrants into the PV market a greater than 30% reduction in normalized capital expenditure (CAPEX), expanding customers? capability and cost reduction per watt of module production. The line incorporates Spire?s advanced SPI-AssemblerTM 7000, SPI-Sun SimulatorTM 4600SLP, the SPI-LaminatorTM 1837, other essential manufacturing and testing equipment, as well as Spire?s process technology and support services.

Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corporation, said, ?As the market leader in turnkey module lines, Spire provides customers with the greatest value by ensuring high throughput, high yield module production at the lowest cost of capital.?

MERRIMACK, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLR), a global provider of polysilicon production technology, and sapphire and silicon crystalline growth systems and materials for the solar, LED and other specialty markets, today announced the SDR?400 next generation CVD reactor for the production of high purity polysilicon. The SDR400 reactor can produce greater than 400 metric tons annually (MTA) of polysilicon. The new SDR400 also lowers electricity consumption by approximately 20 percent for each kilogram of polysilicon produced over the company?s previous generation reactor, the SDR300.

?Our new SDR400 CVD reactor further extends our polysilicon production technology leadership,? said Dave Keck, vice president and general manager of GT Solar?s polysilicon division. ?Customers can produce 33 percent more polysilicon annually in the same footprint using approximately 20 percent less electricity for every kilogram of polysilicon produced. This lowers their cost of ownership and strengthens their competitive position.?

GT Solar also announced that it is partnering with German-based AEG Power Solutions to offer a new power supply developed by AEG, the Thryobox? PI, that is designed to further enhance the output of the SDR400 reactor. The new power supply will be offered as an option to the standard SDR400 configuration and is targeted to increase annual polysilicon production to greater than 500 MTA. Current GT Solar customers using previous generation reactors will be able to upgrade these systems to take advantage of the expected increased annual production output.

Wind Generator Plans to Help You Build Your Own Power Source
By Wayne Gibbons

As basic electricity costs are increasing more and more people are seeking out alternative energy sources to supplement or entirely replace their reliance on the main power grid. But many of us don't possess the engineering knowledge or mechanical know how to design and construct our own power source from scratch.

Short of completely reinventing the wheel, the right wind generator plans will enable you to build your own and supply your own source of power. What I mean by the 'right' plans is ensuring that they are easy to understand and implement so anyone-even those with minimal mechanical knowledge-can successfully and construct their own working generator.

There is undoubtedly a multitude of wind generator plans available on the internet, both for purchase and for free, but many of these wind generator plans can be overcomplicated or use materials that aren't available to everyone. Or even worse, some plans which may look simple enough and consists of everyday materials only end up creating wind generators that don't actually work! This can mean days or even weeks of work only to find your new power source won't actually provide you with any power.

With the risks involved in finding good wind generator plans to construct your own alternative power source, you may be wondering why you would go to the trouble of even trying to build your own to start with? The simple fact of the matter is that while manufacturers and suppliers will charge you hundreds, and even sometimes thousands, for a fully assembled generator - but it is possible to construct your own for less than $100 USD and only 2 weekend's worth of work.

So how can you be sure the wind generator plans you have on hand will work before you actually put in the work? It is important to be sure the plans you are downloading or purchasing have personal testimonials from people who have used the plans to successfully construct and install their own wind generator. If you are still unsure if the plans are the 'real deal' contact the person offering the plans with any questions or assistance you may need. A great sign that the wind generator plans on offer will be genuine is the offer of free support and assistance even after you've purchased the plans from them. And like always, a money back guarantee will provide additional piece of mind over your purchase decision.

It seems fair to say that even though there may be free plans and construction tips, if you do not have much mechanical experience or engineering knowledge the support and assistance provided to back up a purchase of wind generator plans, will prove for a more successful project outcome in the long run. Building your own generator from a fully backed set of wind generator plans is a great way for you and your family to save money as well as reduce your impact on the environment.

Construct your own windmill power generator http://www.howtobuildawindgeneratorstepbystep.com an easy to understand and easy-to-implement guide to craft your own windmill generator and other information to generate your own renewable energy sources.

Date: 2010-09-02, 12:39PM CDT
Reply to: job-cukbu-1932924231@craigslist.org

Halo Verde Energy (www.haloverde.com) is a startup in energy efficient products industry throughout and we are excited to announce the launch of sales of solar photovoltaic panel, CFL, and LED lighting in North America. The company is structured to expand quickly by motivating our sales contractors with excellent performance based compensation.

Halo Verde is accepting applications for both solar and lighting regional managers throughout the United States.

Responsibilities:

Follow leads provided by the sales director and generate warm leads from existing contacts
Negotiate, develop and maintain strategic relationships with key clients and partners
Develop a strong working knowledge of the green energy markets, federal and state government incentive programs and renewable energy industry trade organizations?
Monitor customer satisfaction which includes timely quotations, product shipments, and project completion

Requirements:

Bachelors degree or extensive experience in the retail distribution or wholesale sectors?
Extensive personal contacts in retail chains, wholesale groups or other areas relevant to lighting or solar sales.
Working knowledge of the lighting or solar industry
Knowledge of the green energy credits and rebates programs from the government and your individual state
Ability to act independently and aggressively in a dedicated effort toward achieving sales goals and quotas
Excellent communicator
Laptop with webcam for sales teleconferences with the director of sales in Phoenix, AZ
Vehicle to visit prospective clients

Compensation is entirely performance based and after a 6 month evaluation period for all hired, some regional sales managers will be selected from those competing for the post. Residuals on sales will carry indefinitely and with an average of 1 sale per month you can expect to earn six figures during 2012. Preference will be given to those candidates who meet the above qualifications and who demonstrate excellence in high-ticket sales in competitive industries.

Interested parties should send a cover letter and resume to: careers@haloverde.com
 

Home appraisers haven't been trained or educated regarding the process of evaluating homes that have a solar panel system installed. There's no national standards for home appraisers to help attach a value to solarized homes as compared to non-solarized residences.

Ken Chichester of the Appraisal Institute in Chicago says "One of the challenges that appraisers face in 'green' valuation is the lack of available data and standards," he said.

Date: 2010-09-02, 5:01PM EDT
Reply to: job-tanut-1933364386@craigslist.org


Established Solar Energy Company seeking a Marketing Assistant whose primary responsibilities will be to handle all marketing campaigns while providing administrative support to the other employees of the business.

This is a Part-Time position that may lead to Full-Time.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Coordinates and/or assists in all marketing activities including researching, writing, and editing content for our website.

- Generate press releases and web content

- Seek advertising opportunities

- Assist other employees with tasks


REQUIREMENTS:

- Bachelors degree in Communication, Public Relations, Marketing preferred - - College students can apply

- Must have Photoshop knowledge and be able to edit pictures

- Knowledge of solar energy systems a plus

- Self-motivator that is extremely detail-orientated and can handle multiple, on-going tasks.

- Highly responsive - speedy to execute on requested tasks, prompt in replies and proactive in providing updates.

- Reliable, punctual, accurate, neat, and organized.

- Strong English language, spelling, grammar, and punctuation skills.

- Proficient in Microsoft Office programs including: Outlook; Word; Excel and PowerPoint.
 
Location: Turnersville, NJ

Compensation: TBD - Based on Experience

September 11, 2010
11:00 am	to	3:00 pm

Join us for the last Family Day of 2010! Come fishing at Solar One!

Patrons of a new San Diego California gym called Greenasium have the chance to drop calories while producing energy to run the gym. The new gym opened this week and sports 3 specialized spinning bikes that are equipped to produce energy that is plugged into the nearest outlet.

 BERLIN and VALENCIA, Spain, September 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Photovoltaic system installations in the first half of 2010, estimated at 3 GWp, continue to consolidate Germany's position as the world's largest photovoltaic (PV) market and an attractive investment location for PV companies. In 2009, Germany accounted for approximately one of every two newly installed modules worldwide, with total installations at 3.8 GWp for the year. Germany Trade & Invest will have representatives at this year's European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference & Exhibition in Valencia, Spain, from September 6-9 to introduce opportunities for PV companies in Germany.

Amendments to the photovoltaic feed-in tariffs of Germany's Renewable Energies Act (EEG) were passed in early July, with a further adjustment to take effect October 1. The changes mark a further shift towards the rooftop segment by abandoning field installations on cropland and increasing the attractiveness of the own consumption bonus for small and medium-scale rooftop installations. This bonus is paid to rooftop installation owners of systems smaller than 500 kWp who intend to use the energy they generate.

Feed-in tariff rates were reduced by 13 percent for rooftop installations and eliminated for cropland field installations from July 1. At the same time, conversion areas saw a reduction of 8 percent and all other areas were decreased by 12 percent. Beginning October 1, these rates will be reduced by a further 3 percent. Still, the new tariffs remain highly attractive, with rates ranging from 25.02 - 34.05 EURc/kWh for installations connected before October 1 and 24.26 - 33.03 EURc/kWh for those connected during the remainder of the year.

The law, established ten years ago, requires power companies to buy renewable energy from system owners at the corresponding feed-in tariff rate for 20 years, guaranteeing an attractive payback time and high returns.

Increased Demand by Private Users

The two-tiered changes to the EEG are a reaction to the increased price competitiveness of photovoltaic systems, including the recent price drop for solar panels and components. These developments have created a number of new market opportunities for PV companies. Increased demand in the rooftop segment corresponds with installations by private users who overwhelmingly prefer high-quality systems. Changes are also leading to growing demand for energy storage systems and smart grid applications to fully profit from the own consumption bonus. By 2013 energy from PV sources is expected to be competitive with conventional energy sources in the electricity market for private consumers.

Manufacturers in Germany not only have easy access to a large and growing market, they also benefit from a competitive advantage through a local brand presence and reputation for high quality products. Germany boasts a well established industrial infrastructure, large equipment supplier base, and qualified and experienced workforce. The country's PV industry also features the highest density of R&D institutes in the industry.

Germany Trade & Invest will have representatives at this year's 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference & Exhibition in Feria Valencia - Level 2 - Hall 2 - Booth A17 to meet with companies interested in the world's photovoltaic leader.

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 in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With a goal of helping Arizona move toward a cleaner energy future, Arizona Public Service Co. has issued a request for proposal that seeks solar electric systems for five high-profile government and non-profit organizations. Each location, which requires its own individual proposal, will be fitted with a 10- to 30-kilowatt photovoltaic system.

While five locations have been identified, details of the submitted proposals will ultimately determine how many of the sites are selected to receive solar panels. If chosen, the non-profit entities and government-owned facilities will receive all the energy produced by their site?s solar system. APS will receive the renewable energy credits, which will go toward helping the company meet the requirements of the Arizona Corporation Commission?s Renewable Energy Standard.

Funding for the installations is expected from two sources. A majority will come from the Energy Office of the Arizona Department of Commerce?s Distributed Energy Leadership (Utilities) Program, which is funded with federal stimulus dollars (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009). The second funding source, pending ACC approval, is the APS Renewable Energy Incentive Program.

As part of the development process, installers must meet all reporting requirements of the Arizona Department of Commerce and all requirements related to the accounting and disbursement of federal funds pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

RFP submissions are due by noon (AZ time), Monday, September 27, 2010. Additional information, including the locations for the projects, is available online at aps.com/rfp.

APS, Arizona?s largest and longest-serving electricity utility, serves more than 1.1 million customers in 11 of the state?s 15 counties. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the largest principal of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW).

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ferro Electronic Materials, a leading supplier of materials for fabricating photovoltaic silicon solar cells for more than 25 years, will introduce two new print-on-print metallization pastes at the 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition to be held in Valencia, Spain, September 6?9. NS 33-514 and NS 33-515 pastes have optimized inorganic and organic properties that make them compatible with the double-printing (also known as print-on-print) process.
   
Double-printing of metal grid lines permits solar cell manufacturers to print taller, narrower lines, reducing the shadowing effect caused by wide grid lines, while enhancing electrical conductivity.

Double-printing is experiencing strong growth due to the potential for better print resolution and subsequent increases in efficiency. Ferro's NS 33-514 and NS 33-515 are capable of printing grid lines that are 70-microns wide with a greater than 0.3 aspect ratio.

In double printing, the bottom layer silver can be tailored to have lower contact resistance and the top layer can be designed to have low bulk resistivity. The net effect is to improve electrical output, efficiency, and production, enabling solar energy to become a more cost-competitive energy generation alternative.

"Ferro has been engaged with double printing applications for more than five years," said Todd Williams, business manager for Ferro Electronic Materials. "This technology is experiencing strong pull due to the improvements in electrical efficiency possible from the higher aspect ratios that can be produced."

Fighting a war on the ground in Afghanistan has to be one of the hardest things a young person can do.

Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Defense, or DOD, is on the ground with our troops offering help and support ? albeit in some very unexpected ways.

According to Tony Bui, an engineer with the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, or CERDEC (located at Fort Monmouth, NJ), newly developed renewable energy devices will give U.S. troops more mobility, allow them to stay in the field longer, and protect the average soldier from exposure by ensuring that battery changes happen once in a blue moon. Literally.

The first is called REPPS (the Rucksack Enhanced Portable Power System). Made up of flexible solar photovoltaic (PV) panels rated at 62 watts, it represents a continuous, portable power generation system that can be used to keep laptops and similarly sized electronics running in the field.

Charging can be done in five or six hours. For larger items ? that is, larger than a laptop and smaller than a Jeep ? REPPS units can be chain-ganged to deliver even more electricity, thanks to integrated power conversion technologies.

Another system, called RENEWS (Reusing Existing Natural Wind and Solar system), marries solar and wind energy and integrates inverter technology to allow soldiers to connect to the device through AC/DC (alternating or direct current) outlets.

Because the device also incorporates battery storage of electricity, RENEWS needs the combined muscle of two soldiers to transport. Even so, it provides all the electricity needed to power communications and surveillance equipment, even in the boonies, where vehicle- and grid power often aren?t available.

Both are still in development, but thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA; 2009), 700 REPPS and 125 RENEWS will soon be headed to the troops in Afghanistan.

As Fort Bliss Commanding General Howard B. Bromberg noted, ?We are looking for game-changing technologies??

September 2, 2010

This is the first guest blog post from Wako Takayama, sustainability consultant and author of Everyday Sustainable. Wako is committed to living and working sustainably and helps companies develop sustainable products and services.

When people find out that I have a passion for energy efficiency and have been conducting basic residential energy efficiency audits (as a volunteer with Acterra Green@Home HouseCall,) they often ask what they can do to be more efficient at home.

Talking about CFLs is easy because you can see them and you can tell when they are on and using electricity. Not so with so many of the other electronics products plugged into our homes.

A recent study of energy usage in Minnesota shows that ?Home electronics is a growing portion of each household's electricity usage, close to 20 percent.? In 1980, the average home had three electronic devices. We might guess a TV, stereo/radio and how about a blender?

These days, think about all the gadgets plugged in around a typical house. And we keep bringing new ones home, eager to try out the new computer, brew a cup of coffee or play the latest video game. The last thing on our minds is wasted electricity and how to manage it.

But it turns out that a lot of these things are drawing power even though we don't see it?for example when electronics are is ?standby mode.?  And then there are the things that we forget are even plugged in because we don't use them, like that extra fridge out in the garage that is empty except for a couple liters of soda left over from last Thanksgiving.

The Minnesota study names 5 low-cost and no-cost energy reducing opportunities:

1. Enable computer power management [in other words, make sure your computer goes to sleep or hibernates automatically after it hasn't been used for a while ]
2. Manually unplug devices that draw standby power when not in use
3. Manually turn off devices that are left on but not used
4. Use ?smart? power strips to eliminate standby power consumption of peripherals (e.g., a DVD player) when the main device (e.g. television) is turned off
5. Use timers to eliminate electricity use by devices that are only used at certain times of day

So here is what I suggest for cutting down wasted electricity at home. Walk around your house and give it a one-time plug load audit. A device like a Kill-a-Watt can help you ?see? the watts used by a device when it's on and off and on standby. You can also feel the heat on devices that are drawing power when they are ?off.? As you review the devices in your house, consider which of the opportunities above might work for it. And don't forget to do this every time you bring home your next latest-and-greatest-gadget.

The study was conducted by the Energy Center of Wisconsin. To read the full report of the study and video presentations, go to http://www.ecw.org/plugload.

As nations gear up toward Peak Oil, conserving energy becomes increasingly important.  This includes the office, where the business of business takes place at the highest levels, with executives establishing production quotas even as they develop downsizing plans to boost the bottom line.

You, as an office worker or manager, can help in that effort, and also help yourself, since the better your company does, the more likely you are to keep your job and even (someday, sigh) get a raise.

Take baby steps, like:

• Recycling printer cartridges for charity, which saves the earth and helps fund non-profit rescue organizations
• Shutting down your computer, or at least your monitor, when you leave work. A monitor uses about twice as much energy as a CPU.
• Reducing or eliminating unnecessary print jobs by making often-used office documents available (and interactive) online. Most printers use more energy in standby or sleep mode than they do printing.

Make the steps bigger as you and your coworkers become more comfortable with change. For example, urge your company to install overhead fans to eliminate cubicle overheating or chilly spots, which can be symptoms of a potential ?sick building? problem.

When everyone has gotten behind your ?green office? campaign, go big-time. Ask the office manager to buy occupancy sensors for the offices, so that lights automatically turn off when occupants leave. This alone can save up to 40 percent of lighting costs.

Then ask your IT guru to do the same for the computers, using software that automatically logs them off after they stand idle for more than 15 minutes.

Tackle the lunch/break room, where always-on vending machines can be put on a diet with Vending Mi$er, or similar automated control systems.

Another big but important step is switching out incandescent-lit areas and signs with newer, true-white LEDs, which are even more energy efficient than compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and don?t contain dangerous mercury.

Advance to the lavatories and install low-flow faucets and water-miser toilets. If you can?t afford to go whole-hog, given the lingering recession, adapt toilets by filling an empty gallon milk jug with water and dropping it into the right side of the tank, clear of the valve and stopper assembly.

And a final, though very expensive step: switch ink-jet and laser printers for a PrePeat printer, which works without ink or plain paper, and reuses special plastic sheets hundreds of times by essentially ?erasing? them with heat.

Photo Credit: ecotopia

September 2, 2010

Last weekend, I was in Minnesota, where I had the chance to visit the ?Great Minnesota Get Together?, also known as the Minnesota State Fair.  There was a lot of buzz around solar power and the excitement was absolutely infectious!  If one thing was clear, it's that people are extremely curious about new ways to get energy.  Luckily, the number of available resources is quickly growing!

One of the main attractions at the Minnesota State Fair was an expo hall dedicated to smart homes, including homes powered by solar, called the Eco Experience Building.  Inside the Eco Experience Building, there were several demo homes outfitted with smart solutions like cork flooring and no-VOC wallpaper.  One of the demo homes also had an entire room dedicated to home solar, with presentations, displaying information about everything from solar monitoring to solar panel equipment to solar power inverters.

Here are some of the audience's questions from one of the smart home sessions I attended:

Do solar panels work in the harsh winters?
Solar PV Panels depend on sunlight, not heat. Production does decrease in the winter because of the shorter length of the day, but this can be accounted for and planned for when you size your system. If the panels are covered in snow, that can slow or stop can stop production, but snow generally slides off the angled panels or melts when the sun shines.  Professionally installed panels from a quality local installer will account for resistance to high winds if that is a threat.  In extreme weather situation, if panels are damaged, sometimes that is covered by a warranty or if you purchase insurance.

Can I make money by selling extra power back to the grid?
Yes and no. Local utilities have varying policies on buying back power from residential customers. In Minnesota, utility customers with a grid-tied solar system earn credits from the utility company when they generate more electricity than they use. These credits are based on market value, and they reduce a customer?s electric bill.  The concept of making a bunch of cash by putting in a big array and selling power back to the utility is a misconception in most cases.

Solar was featured in other parts of the Eco Experience Building, as well.  There were displays from Fifty Lanterns International, a solar charity, an interactive area sponsored by the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society, as well as a solar boat on display!  The curiosity and creativity buzzing around solar was thrilling; it was wonderful to see how solar technology is spreading across the country.  The Minnesota State Fair ends this Labor day, September 6, so be sure to check it out and visit the Eco Experience Building this weekend!

Curious about going solar in your home? Check out our Solar By Location pages to learn more about solar in your state!

TORONTO, Sept. 2  /PRNewswire/ - Wind and solar developers, manufacturers, suppliers and Ontario Feed-in Tariff administrators are looking forward to discussing the challenges and opportunities of building the province's wind and solar supply chains next month. All will be gathering on October 5-6 in Toronto  for the Ontario Feed-in Tariff Supply Chain Forum which aims to answer the critical questions around supply chains challenges for wind and solar FIT projects including transmission expansion and Economic Connection Tests (ECTs).

This timely event includes 50+ speakers and is sponsored by Navigant Consulting, Siemens and Enfinity. "Ontario's FIT program has accelerated the adoption of solar PV in Ontario, however; the long-term success of the program will rely heavily on the supply chain," says Chris Young, General Manager, Enfinity Canada Ltd, who is speaking at the event. "Collaboration between stakeholders is important as we work toward achieving a supply chain that is responsive and sustainable while delivering solutions that are cost-competitive, reliable and bankable in the global market and meet domestic policy requirements."

The forum presents an excellent opportunity for FIT project developers, wind and solar manufacturers and suppliers, and scheme administrators to discuss the FIT scheme and outline the necessary steps to ensure the program's success. "I am looking forward to the opportunity to visit with colleagues in the wind energy industry - clients, competitors, developers and others," comments Michael Barczak, VP of Sales for DMI Industries, who is also presenting at the forum. "I also look forward to learning about any breaking news and developments that typically surface at these types of events."

Vancouver-based Day4 Energy, who is licensing its solar technology to select Ontario manufacturers looking to diversify, is also presenting at the forum. "I'm looking forward to hearing the issues that others in PV supply are facing and how they are dealing with them," comments John Stonier, Vice President of Strategic Planning and Treasurer at Day4 Energy. "This is a new market with many opportunities to explore. The forum provides an excellent opportunity to understand them."

The Ontario Feed-in Tariff Supply Chain Forum is being supported by a strong group of industry organizations and partners including the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA), The Great Lakes Wind Network (GLWN), the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA), the Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO), Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), The Green Energy Act Alliance, the Canadian Renewable Energy Alliance (CanREA), Canada Newswire, Electricity Today, Renewable Energy World, Recharge, and McMillan LLP.

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASYS), a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of solar cells, semiconductors, and silicon wafers, today announced that its solar subsidiary, Tempress Systems, Inc., has received approximately $37 million in new solar orders for its diffusion processing systems from several new and existing customers in Asia. Including these most recent orders, Amtech?s total solar orders to-date in fiscal 2010 has reached approximately $157 million. Amtech?s fiscal 2010 began October 1, 2009.

J.S. Whang, Chief Executive Officer of Amtech, commented, ?These latest orders further demonstrate the quality and depth of our expanding solar customer base, and our ability to provide excellent product and service to the industry. We believe the intense effort by our customers and the solar industry to increase cell efficiency will continue to drive demand for our superior diffusion technology. We continue to see excellent quotation activity and remain focused on continued successful execution of our solar growth strategy.?

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Silicon Genesis, a leader in process and technology for engineered substrates announced today that it has started production of solar wafers using its new high volume manufacturing PolyMax system. In an industry first, SiGen has produced 85?m thick, 156 mm square kerf-free monocrystalline silicon wafers. Kerf is the material converted into saw dust, inherent in all sawing processes. This achievement delivers the first true mono c-Si kerf-free wafering for the PV industry.   

The introduction of the PolyMax high volume manufacturing system brings the industry one step closer to replacing wire saw processes with a lower cost waste-free wafering solution. A key strength of the PolyMax system is its ability to produce wafers thinner than is achievable with wire saw technology, allowing the industry to produce cells with higher conversion efficiencies and lower cost.

?We believe the benefit of using kerf-free wafers will allow the PV industry to reach unsubsidized grid parity. The start up of our high volume manufacturing system is a key step towards achieving this goal,? said Francois Henley, CEO of SiGen.

In an invited talk at the 35th IEEE PV Specialists Conference, Henley reviewed crystalline silicon kerf-free wafering technologies. At the upcoming 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (25th EU PVSEC) in Valencia, Spain, SiGen will present the PolyMax production system (2CV.1.53).

Senseable City, developed by MIT to address the issue of urban infrastructure as it relates to digital technology, is planning to compete for the newly announced $10-million X Prize for a cleanup solution to the BP Gulf oil spill.

Called the Seaswarm project, the initiative is one of 42 under the auspices of MIT?s Senseable City since 2004. Project Director Carlo Ratti, Associate Director Assaf Biderman and their team have developed a robot named Seaswarm, powered by solar panels on its ?head.?

The robot cleans up floating oil by catching it on a nanowire-covered conveyer belt. The captured oil is then ?wrung out? of the paperlike nanofiber when the belt passes inside the head. The oil is either stored in a reservoir, or burnt off, and the newly cleaned conveyor belt is extruded to pick up more oil.

The solar photovoltaic (PV) cells on top of the robot?s head allow it to keep moving for several weeks, unlike units deployed in the Gulf earlier in the summer, which had to dock constantly for maintenance and only collected about 3 percent of the estimated 5 million barrels of oil from the broken well.

Inventors describe the process as ?seamless,? because oil collection begins the moment the nanowire belt emerges from the head. They are hoping their 7-foot wide ?oilbot? ? a square, yellow box that looks like a short sidewalk trash container with a 16-foot long conveyor belt hanging out of the opening ? can capture the X Prize.

The X Prize Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding radical, technological breakthroughs that benefit humanity, is currently offering $10 million to the inventor(s) who produce a viable, cost-effective solution to the BP Gulf oil spill.

The Seaswarm, replicated to 5,000 or even 10,000 units, could potentially clean up the BP Gulf oil spill in a month, thanks to swarm robotics algorithms delivered via GPS and wireless technology to maximize motion capture, as well as the paper-like nanofiber?s ability to absorb up to 20 times its weight in oil.

Even at a cost of $20,000 per unit, designers estimate their cleanup costs for a leak the size of the BP spill to top out at $200 million. BP has already paid about $6 billion to clean up its Gulf disaster with little success.

A Seaswarm prototype has already been tested in Massachusetts? Charles River. The August trial run demonstrated that the conveyer belt was fully adaptable to surface waves, and the solar PV cells allowed it to move forward without hindrance. Best of all, the whole assembly is reusable.

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR), a global solar company providing capital equipment and turnkey manufacturing lines to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) modules and cells, today announced its Chairman and CEO, Roger G. Little, Spire Solar?s Executive Vice President and General Manager, Stephen J. Hogan, and Spire?s senior management team will exhibit at the 25th European PV Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) in Valencia, Spain at Level 2, Hall 4, Booth 15.

At the conference, Spire will introduce its Spi-Line? 20MW (Megawatt) Assembly Line, which will assemble 20MW of modules per year, offering new entrants into the market a greater than 30% reduction in capital expenditure (CAPEX) costs per watt. The new line incorporates several systems introduced in 2010, including Spire?s latest Spi-AssemblerTM 7000 and Spi-LaminatorTM 1837, along with its Spi-Sun SimulatorTM 4600 single long-pulse, and other critical manufacturing and testing equipment.

The Conference will take place from the 6th to 10th of September 2010 at the Feria Valencia in Valencia, Spain. The EU PVSEC is considered the most important international conference in the field of PV. During this time, the 5th World Conference on PV Energy Conversion will also occur.

Spire?s Vice President of Solar Marketing, Mr. Mark Willingham, will present Advanced Metrology Solutions for High-Volume Module Production from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 7, in the Sala Ausias March section of the Exhibition Area. Mr. Hogan will also be participating in the EPIA B2B Workshop as a Panel participant in Accelerating the Transfer from Lab to Fab on Thursday, September 9th.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Clean Fuels, Inc. (PinkSheets:NACF) cheered a report this week from a top investor that China will likely introduce more measures in the coming year to support the development of cleaner energy, boosting shares of solar companies. 

Bloomberg News reported that Shi Bo, the general manager of Shanghai Elegant Investment Co., recommends that investors favor shares of Chinese solar companies as that government promotes cleaner sources of energy. According to Bloomberg, Shi oversees about $400 million dollars and his fund outperformed 98 percent of China-domiciled funds in the past year.

?China?s shift away from energy-intensive and polluting industries to a low-carbon economy is one of the key investment opportunities in the next three years,? Shi said. ?You have to invest in sectors that the government is advocating.?

China, the world?s biggest polluter, could spend up to 5 trillion yuan over the next decade developing cleaner alternatives to energy derived from fossil fuels, said Jiang Bing, head of the National Energy Administration?s planning and development department, in July. China is already the global leader in solar technology manufacturing.

National Clean Fuels is poised to capitalize on the explosive growth of solar technology in China. The company is dedicated to implementing profitable development partnerships that advance clean-fuel technologies around the globe. The Chinese solar economy includes companies such as Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL), Suntech Power (NYSE: STP), Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE) and LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK).

For more information, please visit www.nationalcleanfuels.com.

BURTONSVILLE, Md. & TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New Energy Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: NENE) announced today that its SolarWindow? technology, the first-of-its-kind, small-scale prototype capable of generating electricity on see-thru glass, will be publicly unveiled for the first time on September 16th, 2010 at the University of South Florida (USF).
   
Electricity generated by New Energy?s SolarWindow? on prototypes of see-thru glass windows will be demonstrated at 2:30 p.m. EDT at the University of South Florida at this location: Science Center (SCA) Board Room (411) & Research Laboratory (421), where both natural and artificial light sources will be used as power sources. The demonstration will be led by Dr. Xiaomei Jiang, lead researcher at the Department of Physics at the University of South Florida, whose work with the world?s smallest working organic solar cells to generate electricity on see-thru glass was made possible. Additionally, John A. Conklin, President and CEO of New Energy Technologies, Inc. will be among the event?s hosts.

New Energy researchers have developed a working prototype of the Company?s SolarWindow? technology in preparation for eventual full-scale production. Low production costs, improved manufacturability, and increased power performance are among important, recently announced objectives researchers are now targeting. Key to these advances is the development of new methods and technologies for applying New Energy?s electricity-generating coatings to see-thru glass surfaces. New Energy?s working prototype serves as a model for future advancements to various surface coating techniques and methodologies for applying SolarWindow? coatings to see-thru glass.

?The public demonstration of our novel SolarWindow? technology is a very exciting milestone for all our stakeholders, including the research team, management, and shareholders of New Energy,? stated Mr. John A. Conklin, President and CEO of New Energy Technologies, Inc. ?We?re eager to demonstrate how far we have come in developing the first-ever technology of its kind with the potential to radically change the way in which we power the estimated 80 million detached homes and 5 million commercial buildings in America, and throughout the world.?

Electrical power is generated on see-thru glass when New Energy?s SolarWindow? coatings are sprayed onto surfaces using commercially available technologies. This patent-pending process enables researchers to spray SolarWindow? coatings onto glass at room temperature, eliminating expensive and often cumbersome high-temperature or high-vacuum production methods commonly used by current solar manufacturers.

Until now, solar panels have remained opaque with the prospect of creating a see-thru glass window capable of generating electricity limited by the use of metals and various expensive processes which block visibility and prevent light from passing through glass surfaces.

"We applaud Dr. Jiang for her ongoing work and collaboration of the research team at the Physics lab at the University of South Florida for helping us develop an early scale working prototype of SolarWindow? along with significant breakthroughs with transparency and the production of electricity on see-thru glass,? commented Mr. Conklin. ?A new day is dawning for us and the general public as we look forward to combating escalating energy costs and concerns over the environment."

Researchers are also working to bolster the electrical power output of SolarWindow?, generated from both natural sunlight and artificial sources such as fluorescent lighting typically installed inside commercial offices and incandescent bulbs inside residential homes. Unlike conventional solar technologies, New Energy?s SolarWindow? generates electricity from both natural and artificial light sources, outperforming today?s commercial solar and thin-film technologies by as much as 10-fold under low-intensity irradiance.

About New Energy Technologies, Inc.

New Energy Technologies, Inc., together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, is a developer of next generation alternative and renewable energy technologies. Among the Company?s technologies under development are:

    * MotionPower? roadway systems for generating electricity by capturing the kinetic energy produced by moving vehicles ? a patent-pending technology, the subject of nine patent applications in the United States and two international patent filings. An estimated 250 million registered vehicles drive more than six billion miles on America?s roadways, every day; and
    * SolarWindow? technologies which enable see-thru windows to generate electricity by ?spraying? their glass surfaces with New Energy?s electricity-generating coatings. These solar coatings are less than 1/10th the thickness of ?thin? films and make use of the world?s smallest functional solar cells, shown to successfully produce electricity in a published peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy of the American Institute of Physics.

Through established relationships with universities, research institutions, and commercial partners, we strive to identify technologies and business opportunities on the leading edge of renewable energy innovation. Unique to our business model is the use of established research infrastructure owned by the various institutions we deal with, saving us significant capital which would otherwise be required for such costs as land and building acquisition, equipment and capital equipment purchases, and other start up expenses. As a result, we are able to benefit from leading edge research while employing significantly less capital than conventional organizations.

A new method of predicting solar storms that could help to avoid widespread power and communications blackouts costing billions of pounds has been launched by researchers in the UK.

Starting small takes the ?pocket pain? out of solar power

To cover your home energy needs, a solar installation should be about 5 to 7 kilowatts (kW) in size (average American homes eat up an estimated 920 kilowatt-hours, or kWh, per month, says the EIA).

At 7 kW, given an average solar insulation value of 4.5 across most of the nation, EcoSolar International predicts an electrical production rate of 38.5 kWh per day, or 1,155 per month, which is actually closer to real energy use in homes in the electronic age.

The average costs of 5- to 7-kW systems, plus installation, still remain about $33,000 to $49,000 to make your home energy-independent. Obviously, a home that is more energy-efficient in other ways will require significantly less electricity, and therefore lower costs.

Of course, various federal, state, local and utility incentives ? from tax breaks to actual cash ? reduce that cost, if you qualify (in some cases, like Oregon, by more than 50 percent). And if you can do the work yourself, you save even more, but be certain you are qualified. Incorrectly installing a $31,400 Kyocera kit is like going to Vegas and losing, big time.

7 Baby Steps to Go Solar

For those who want to go solar, but don?t want to invest in the whole-hog approach or lack the technical know-how to install a traditional solar PV system, consider taking baby steps.

#1?Install DIY kits with built-in panel inverters, or microinverters, like those offered by Solar Sphere's DIY Solar Kits or Sustainablog's green shopping site. These panels deliver AC (alternating current, the kind your electrical panel requires), and are easier to wire into your home?s electrical system.

#2?Or choose GoGreenSolar?s 250-watt, grid-tied, Plug N Play Solar Power Kit, which plugs directly into any household outlet and delivers 1 kWh of electricity a day. Plug in 10, and you have lighting and emergency electrical backup covered. Way to go, pro!

#3?Akeena Solar, whose 175-watt Andalay solar panels won the Kansas Climate and Energy Project Take Charge Challenge, is merging with Westinghouse, the appliance giant, and changing its name accordingly. In 2009, Akeena sold its trademark plug and play Andalay panels through retailers, including 21 Lowe?s locations in California.

#4?Ready Solar offers a ?kit in a box? with web-based performance monitoring whose modular design allows for simple expansion.

#5?And Armageddon Energy plans to offer a solar panel in the form of hexagon that ? snapped into three other panels ? forms a ?solar clover.? One unit delivers .33 kW, and the product should reach the market in 2011, but like many too-good-to-be-true products advertised as plug and play, installation is slightly more complicated.

#6?The same is true of Lumeta PowerPly?s [video] flexible ?peel ?n stick? solar modules (think Contac Paper), which deliver 2.25 kW in 34 minutes on flat roofs.

#7?Last, but far from least, consider Clarian Technologies, which currently offers a truly plug and play unit called Sunfish, rated at 1 kilowatt and costing about $3,000 (or a mini-Sunfish at 200 watts and $800 or less). The units, equipped with all-UL electronics and a GFCI circuit breaker to protect homeowners and linemen from electric shock, are lightweight and help reduce distribution line losses.

While waiting to decide on the most cost-effective system to purchase, you might also want to reflect on the fact that competition can only make solar energy simpler and less expensive. In fact, manufacturers are finally beginning to discover the consumer ideal: products don?t have to be ?fancy,? but they certainly do have to be ?easy.?

Now, if only the industry could clone a plug ?n play teenager!

Photo Credits via Flickr: mjmonty & rtadlock

We've got a burning question for you, readers.

If you love solar power, enjoy reading all about it on our solar blog and ultimately hope to own a system yourself, what's keeping you from taking the plunge? What obstacle, challenge, or hang-up means the difference between clean, free energy and the same old expensive, grid-tied power you're getting now? Or if you have gone solar, what used to be the issue in the past?

Answer our poll below to share your thoughts.

Photo Credit: Wayne National Forest via Flickr

The Salt Palace located in Salt Lake City will be the new home of the largest rooftop solar panel installation in America. The installation is expected to be finished next year.

The array is a 600,000 square feet and will provide a quarter of the energy needs for Salt Palace. Mega-powerful at 2.6 megawatts, the installation is being done by several companies including Nextgen and Bella Energy.

Learn more at Fast Company.

Date: 2010-08-31, 7:23AM PDT
Reply to: see below

Solar Power Installation is a growing field.
We are looking for Full-Time Solar Power Installers.

Certification & NABCEP needed to work.

TRAINING provided at No Cost for those who qualify.
Unemployed & Low Income.

Must be over 18.

SOLARINSTAL INC.
 
Call: (213) 256-2382

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Compensation: $20-25 hr.

Scientists report success in boosting the ability of zinc oxide solar cells to absorb visible light simply by applying a blended mixture of various off-the-shelf dyes commonly used in food and medical industries -- in a soak-then-dry procedure not unlike that used to color a tee-shirt in a home washing machine.

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global Solar Energy, Inc., a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide (CIGS) solar material, today unveiled its flexible building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) module: the PowerFLEX? BIPV. Specially designed for commercial and industrial rooftops, PowerFLEX BIPV modules can deliver more power per rooftop than any other solar solution. With the PowerFLEX BIPV module, rooftops can quickly and cost effectively start generating clean energy.   

Global Solar will showcase its PowerFLEX BIPV at the 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (25th EU PVSEC) / 5th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC-5), September 6-9 in Valencia, Spain.

With 12.6 percent aperture efficiency, Global Solar PowerFLEX BIPV delivers the highest efficiency in the flexible module industry. The module has a large format (5.75m x 0.5m) and a high power density (300W) enabling it to outperform other flexible solar roofing solutions currently on the market, including 50 percent more energy and power than the current amorphous silicon standard.

Global Solar?s PowerFLEX BIPV module directly addresses the biggest concerns posed by the roofing industry regarding solar integration. It is lightweight and can be applied directly to a roofing surface, requiring no mounting hardware, no roof penetrations, and creates no additional wind load. Designed especially for roofs, Global Solar?s PowerFLEX BIPV maintains the integrity and aesthetics of a building structure. Because of its large format and high power density, Global Solar?s PowerFLEX BIPV will also lower installation and balance of system (BOS) costs.

Although traditional glass solar modules are too heavy for many commercial applications, they have been one of the few options available to the building industry for solar energy generation. Unlike conventional glass modules, which are heavy, rigid and typically installed at an angle on racks, PowerFLEX BIPV modules are lightweight and flexible, and installed flat directly on the roofing surface. This allows the modules to cover a greater amount of rooftop space that, depending on the location of the building, can equate to 50-100 percent more power and energy per rooftop than a tilted solar array. This advantage is particularly acute at higher latitudes.

?At Global Solar, we recognized that the building industry has not been able to fully optimize the real estate on the rooftop with solar solutions currently available,? said Dr. Jeff Britt, CEO of Global Solar Energy. ?We worked closely with roofing professionals when we designed the PowerFLEX BIPV, and their experience mattered to us. Leveraging their input, we now offer a high-powered module that will create the most powerful rooftops in the world.?

Industry research is showing that the BIPV market is heating up. Lux Research reported that by 2013 the BIPV market will reach $5.7 billion. Solutions that will succeed are ones that meet the power, design and cost requirements set by the building and roofing industries.

Kids waiting at the bus stop in Wisconsin this year will be introduced to a new sort of school supply, an item much bigger than their new back-to-school sneakers. Plug-in electric school buses are set to carry children in southeastern Wisconsin back to school, where the kids' own special kicks can carry them and their newly-minted folders and notebooks from classroom to classroom.

The 11 hybrid electric-diesel buses heading out to neighborhoods in the Oconomowoc school district are expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 to 40 percent compared to traditional diesel-only buses. A battery-driven electric motor will work in tandem with a conventional diesel motor to power the buses. This is much like the famed Toyota Prius passenger car, but these buses will have the ability to plug into electrical outlets to recharge (though a small number of Priuses do have this ability through the Google-sponsored RechargeIT experiment).

The Oconomowoc Transportation Company's small fleet is expected to have twice the fuel efficiency of their diesel counterparts. The buses are supplied by the IC Corporation, an affiliate of Illinois-based truck and engine manufacturer Navistar International. In addition to fuel and fuel cost savings, the buses should save money through less maintenance costs due to reduced wear and tear on their engines.

Solar Charging Stations

To avoid trading fossil-fueled driving emissions for fossil fuel power plant emissions (used when recharging the buses' batteries), a solar-powered recharging station was installed at the fleet's garage. The solar system will produce over 60,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year to charge bus batteries.

Another Wisconsin school transit company, the Riteway Bus Service, is scheduled to receive 13 IC Corporation plug-in hybrid buses as well, including its own solar recharging station.

Recovery Act Funding

$3.6 million was handed out by the Wisconsin Clean Transportation Program to help fund the 24 buses and two solar recharge stations. That money is part of the state of Wisconsin's funding allocation under the federal Recovery Act, signed by President Obama and used to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy development in all 50 states.

Source: Brighter Energy
Photo Credit: IC Bus