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photovoltaics
DuPont solar sales exceed expectations
DuPont announced that its sales of photovoltaic cells exceeded $1 billion this year alone, a goal achieved one year ahead of schedule. “Our broad portfolio of offerings spans crystalline silicon cells and modules as well as thin film modules, putting us in an ideal position to capitalize on market growth in both segments of the... [read more]
Global Integration in the Solar Photovoltaic Industry – a new WRI working paper
The World Resources Institute has just issued a new working paper titled Toward a Sunny Future? Global Integration in the Solar PV Industry. This paper analyzes the global integration of the solar photovoltaic (PV) sector and looks in detail at the industry’s recent growth patterns, industry cost structure, trade and investment... [read more]
Could solar represent one quarter of world electricity production by 2050?
The International Energy Agency, according to two recently released technology roadmaps, thinks solar electricity coming from photovoltaic or concentrating solar systems could by 2050 come to represent between 20 and 25 per cent of global electricity production. Now, to be clear, we’re talking about production — not capacity — so this... [read more]
Solar Photovoltaics for the U.S. Commercial Market – New WRI Working Paper
This new working paper from the World Resources Institute provides a snapshot of the current investment environment for solar photovoltaic (PV) in the United States and describes the current installation trends, policy landscape, and economics. A management summary of this working paper, as prepared by the World Resources Institute: The... [read more]
Chemicals profit in solar
DuPont, Dow Corning, BASF, Wacker Chemie, Solutia (and other chemical companies) have been announcing left and right about recent developments and projects within the solar market -- especially solar encapsulants. According to DuPont, encapsulants are among the most important materials to solar module manufacturers for high-volume... [read more]
Solar, Water, Power Rack Up Another $200 Million in Funding
Solar research received a nice boost from Energy Secretary Steven Chu on Earth Day. The Department of Energy allocated $200 million for research and development of solar power and a variety of water power technologies. The funding is aimed less at discovering new innovations and more toward improving processes to accelerate the... [read more]
Light-Trapping Photovoltaics
Technology Review has a look at the use of nanoparticles to improve solar power performance - TR10: Light-Trapping Photovoltaics. In 1995, finishing her undergraduate degree in physics, Kylie Catchpole decided to take a risk on a field that was nearly moribund: photovoltaics. "There was a sense that I might have difficulty ever... [read more]
DOE Announces Clean Tech Manufacturing Programs with an Eye Toward Making Clean Energy Cheap
In a move that may help boost U.S. competitiveness in the global clean tech industry, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced on Thursday a $200 million investment in solar and water power technologies specifically designed to accelerate the creation of a domestic clean energy manufacturing base. The investment includes $125 million... [read more]
Concentrating photovolatic ready for prime time?
Photo: Amonix In The New York Times on Wednesday, I wrote about Southern California solar company Amonix scoring one of the biggest rounds of green tech funding this year — $129.4 million from investors led by Silicon Valley heavyweight Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers: In one of the biggest green technology deals of the year, a... [read more]
Can Organic Electronics Promise Cleaner Energy?
A topic of interest for this blog since 2007, the potential for conductive polymers to cut the cost of solar power system could bring about a widespread adoption of BIPV (Building Integrate Photo Voltaic) systems. It, thus, was of interest to note a Science Daily article about a new way to make electronic devices from plastics. PVL (... [read more]
Glitter-sized solar photovoltaics produce competitive results
PhysOrg has an article on "glitter-sized photovoltaic cells that could revolutionize the way solar energy is collected and used" from Sandia Labs - Glitter-sized solar photovoltaics produce competitive results. Sandia lead investigator Greg Nielson said the research team has identified more than 20 benefits of scale for its... [read more]
Scientists develop glitter-sized solar cells
Sandia National Laboratories scientists have developed glitter-sized photovoltaic cells that use 100 times less silicon and generate the same amount of energy as conventional solar cells. The cost reduction is due partly to the fact the microcells don’t need a lot of material to become highly efficient and well-controlled... [read more]
Solar startup files for IPO
photo: Solyndra In The New York Times on Friday, I write that Solyndra, a Silicon Valley photovoltaic module maker, has become the first solar startup in years to brave the public markets: Solyndra, a well-financed solar module maker, filed a registration statement for an initial public offering on Friday to raise $300 million to... [read more]
Cost of solar drops 30% in 10 years
According to a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report, the cost of solar photovoltaic systems in the United States fell 30% between 1998 and 2008. They found the average installed costs, in 2008 dollars, fell from $10.80 per watt to $7.50 per watt during the 11-year period.Small PV systems, typically used on homes, saw their... [read more]
Renewables powerhouse Iberdrola makes strategic investment in Toronto’s Morgan Solar
Since first writing about Toronto-based Morgan Solar a year ago, I’ve grown increasingly fond of this up-and-coming developer and soon-to-be manufacturer of concentrated PV systems. They think out-of-the-box, and they execute quickly. They fine tune until they get it right, and they don’t make a lot of noise until they get it right.... [read more]
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Is Climate Change Bringing the Arctic to Europe? (631 views)
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Scott Edward Anderson is a consultant, blogger, and media commentator who blogs at The Green Skeptic. More »
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Christine Hertzog is a consultant, author, and a professional explainer focused on Smart Grid. More »
Jesse Jenkins is the director of energy and climate policy at the Breakthrough Institute. More »
Robert Rapier works in the energy industry and writes and speaks about energy and the environment. More »
Geoffrey Styles is Managing Director of GSW Strategy Group, LLC and an award-winning blogger. More »
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3rd Annual Utility Customer Experience Management Conference
When: Wed, 2012-02-08 08:00
Outage Delivery Optimisation Forum 2012
When: Wed, 2012-02-08 08:30
CSP Today South Africa 2012
When: Wed, 2012-02-08 09:00
Africa Energy Indaba
When: Tue, 2012-02-21 08:00
NERC CIP Compliance Training
When: Thu, 2012-02-23 08:00
2012 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit
When: Mon, 2012-02-27 12:27
