SolarSummary: 13th 23rd September, 2002

by Kirsten Elder

Companies in the news

New Products

Carmanah Technologies Inc. of Canada has launched a solar-powered bus stop with a night visibility range of 1.6 km. The i-Stop bus stop uses high-intensity, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for its lighting features, including a flashing beacon to notify bus drivers a passenger is waiting, an illuminated bus schedule and a security light that keeps passengers from waiting in the dark. According to the company, transit agencies across North America and London, England, have placed orders to test the product. (Canada.com via Solarbuzz, 17/09/02)

Solar Dynamics, Inc., a manufacturer of portable solar power systems, has announced the availability of The Cub, a lightweight, portable power source that provides DC and AC electricity for small electronic devices and recharges itself through a 5 watt thin film solar module. (Solarbuzz, 18/09/02)

Applications

In Scotland, Edinburgh City Council plans to spend 1.3 million on solar-powered parking ticket machines which alert operators when they are being vandalised. Council chiefs claim the huge outlay will save money by cutting electricity bills and making the machines less vulnerable to thieves. The city council is set to award the 1.3m contract to replace 430 city parking meters to an English electronics company, Schlumberger. Its “Stelio” machines cost more than 2000 each. The new machines need no underground cables and can also electronically send messages using the latest mobile phone-style technology warning officials when equipment is out of order or ticket supplies are low. An alarm notice will also be sent if the machines are being vandalised or a theft is being attempted. (Edinburgh News via Solarbuzz, 20/09/02)


The City of Tucson, Arizona has installed and activated a 144-panel solar power generation facility providing an estimated 72,000 kWh of electricity annually to power several pumps and associated equipment that operate continuously at the Hayden/Udall water treatment plant. The solar facility is the result of a partnership between the City of Tucson, TEP, the Greater Tucson Coalition for Solar Energy and SEPA, and was partially funded by a US$75,000 grant from SEPA and the US Department of Energy. (SolarAccess, 18/09/02)

A pilot program to test a new form of solar electric system on city buildings was approved by the San Diego City Council yesterday. Under the $419,177 pilot program, Kerr Enterprises Inc. will install thin-film glass solar cells on the roof of the Metropolitan Operations Center of the city Metropolitan Wastewater Department in Kearny Mesa. The system is expected to generate 58,366 kWh of electricity a year, which would reduce the city’s annual energy costs by about $10,200. If the project is successful similar solar systems could be used on other city buildings. However, there has been some criticism about the decision to use thin-film solar cells due to the potential pollution problems caused by cadmium, a toxic metal. (San Diego Union Tribune via Solarbuzz, 18/09/02)

EcoEnergies, Inc. has completed the installation of a 10 kW solar electric system for Congregation Shir Hadash, in Los Gatos, California. This is the first known large PV system installed on a Synagogue in the western United States. (SolarAccess, 20/09/02)

In a bid to alleviate water related problems in Abuja, the Capital City of Nigeria, the Federal Capital T
erritory Minister, Engineer Mohammed Abba-Gana, has commissioned solar-powered water pumps worth N120 million ($945,000) for Kuje and Gwagwalada Area Councils in the territory. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the “solar pedal flow water scheme”, the minister said the project marked the beginning of a new era in the socio-economic growth of the citizenry and pointed out that the water scheme would put paid to the incidence of water borne diseases. (This Day via Solarbuzz, 20/09/02)

Markets

170 companies and 13 of the 15 EU member states have signed up to the Renewable Energy Certification System (RECS), which issues “proof of origin” certificates to firms producing clean electricity. RECS is a system of national authorities which would issue a unique certificate to prove where, when and how electricity was produced “The certificate system makes it possible to track the renewable energy and see who has paid for it,” said Marjolein Quene, head of RECS. The certificate could then be bought by somebody wanting to buy energy from a certain source. “This enables a market for renewable energy to be created, so promoting the development of new renewable energy capacity in Europe,” RECS said in a statement. “The question of whether the certificates should be traded in the future is up to governments,” said Quene. (Reuters via Solarbuzz, 16/09/02)

The government of Thailand has approved another 200-million-baht ($4.6 million) budget for the Government’s energy saving campaign. The National Institute of Development Administration said the campaign promoting energy efficiency had already helped save the country almost 17 billion baht (just under $400,000) in energy a year. The budget will go to the National Energy Policy Office (Nepo) for the next fiscal year, starting in October, to promote new campaigns to save water and encourage the use of renewable energy. Nepo also wants to increase the number of houses with solar-roof tops from 50 to 10,000 houses in the next 10 years. (Bangkok Post via Solarbuzz, 20/09/02)

Investments and Finance

According to a report by Shell Solar, its “One Million Solar Homes Fund” initiative has been given tentative support by the GEF to providing 40 percent of the required grant funding of $150 million to launch the Fund. Support for this approach has been confirmed in separate meetings between the Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors of the Shell Group Phil Watts and the head of the IFC Peter Woicke, and the head of the World Bank James Wolfensohn. In addition, the Dutch, US, Canadian, Swiss, German and UK delegations present at the World Summit in Johannesburg have all indicated that they are interested in contributing to the Fund. (Shell Solar, 13/09/02)

S.A.G. Solarstrom announced that it is installing a 30 kW system on a school roof in Freiberg, Germany. The project was funded by the city council, and comprises 285 Solar-Fabrik modules covering 275 square meters of roof area. The school roof has the potential to add a further 160 kW of PV capacity and expansion will be triggered by up to 250 individual investors making minimum contributions of 1000. Investors will receive a defined rate of interest on their investment, funded by sale of the solar electricity under the German Renewable Energy Act (EEG). (Solarbuzz, 20/09/02)

Policy and Incentives

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has begun its push to get an energy bill that promotes solar energy signed into law before Congress adjourns next month. The campaign, which will include CEO visits to Congress, an e-mail and fax campaign from solar enthusiasts and workers employed by solar companies and an informational campaign to educate energy bill Conferees about the key solar provisions, began last week with delivery of a letter to bill Conferees urging aggressive efforts to expand clean energy technologies. Top executives at more than 70 companies nationwide signed the letter. (SolarAccess, 20/09/02)

The Board of Commissioners has approved action that will expand and extend the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Solar Incentive Program. The approved measures will increase incentive payment limits for commercial and industrial customers from $1 million to $2 million per project and increase residential projects to $60,000 from $50,000. The highest incentive payments of $4.50 per watt and $6.00 per watt for systems manufactured in Los Angeles, were extended for an additional year until the end of 2003. The overall Solar Program was extended to 2010. Also, for the first time commercial and industrial customers may participate in the LADWP Solar Incentive Program in addition to The Gas Company’s Self Generation rebate program for projects of 30 kilowatts and above. (Solarbuzz, 18/09/02)

California Gov. Gray Davis has signed legislation that requires the state to double its supply of renewable energy to 20 percent of all retail power sales by 2017, the highest level in the U.S. The bill means the state’s investor-owned utilities and other retail sellers of electricity will have to boost their use of renewable resources by at least 1 percent a year until the 20 percent goal is met by a 2017 deadline. About 10 percent of California’s electricity can already be traced back to renewable resources like wind, geothermal, biomass and solar power. But natural gas remains California’s biggest fuel source, accounting for about half of the state’s power generation. (Planet Ark [Reuters], 13/09/02)

Industry Reports and Events

The Strategic Research Institute will host the 2nd Annual Energy Investor Summit November 11 – 12, 2002 in New York City, providing investment strategies for the energy future. Previewing the latest new energy technology and expert tips on investing profitably, this event will also present investors and entrepreneurs a rare networking opportunity at an exclusive matchmaking Expo. (SolarAccess, 18/09/02)

College students across the US have been completing 14 custom-designed solar-powered homes for the US Department of Energy’s first-ever Solar Decathlon. The Solar Decathlon is a team competition among universities to design and build the most energy-efficient solar-powered homes, being held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., from September 26th to October 5th. To win the Solar Decathlon, a team must blend aesthetics and modern conveniences with maximum energy production and efficiency. Spons
ors of the Solar Decathlon, in addition to DOE, include BP Solar, The Home Depot, EDS, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). (Solarbuzz, 14/09/02)


German roof tile manufacturer, Pfleiderer, has won the distinguished Design Prize of the Federal Republic of Germany 2002 for its solar roof tile Terra Piatta Solar. The companys smooth brick Terra Piatta also received an acknowledgement. The “Terra Piatta and the Terra Piatta Solar inspired the Design Prize jury because of the captivating idea to co-ordinate the concept of a roofing tile and solar plant said one of the jurors. This was the first time that the product groups (roofing tiles and solar power systems) were considered for the German Design prize. (Solarbuzz, 12/09/02)

Corporate News

Kyocera Corporation will raise annual output of solar panels at its Youkaichi plant in Shiga Prefecture by 70 percent to 100 MW by the end of fiscal 2003, 28 MW more than earlier planned, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported citing company sources. To attain the goal, the Kyoto-based company will install extra production lines at the plant by summer 2003. The facility currently produces slightly more than 60 MW of such panels annually. The company will also consider setting up new assembly facilities overseas, especially in China, the US and Europe. Kyocera, which generates 30 percent of its solar panel sales from exports, plans to raise this figure to 50 percent in a few years and increase total annual sales from solar panel operations to Y50 billion by 2005 from the current Y30 billion. (Nihon Keizai Shimbun via Solarbuzz, 16/09/02)


PowerLight Corporation and ThinkEnergy of Maryland have collaborated to install the largest commercial solar rooftop electric system in North America at Toyota Motor Sales, US headquarters in California. The 501 kW solar system, which can generate enough electricity in the daytime to power more than 500 homes, will be installed this autumn at Toyotas South Campus expansion project. (Solarbuzz, 13/09/02)

Duke Solar has been selected to build a 1 MW trough ORC power plant for Arizona Public Service (APS). The APS competitive solicitation requested a 1 MW trough ORC plant that operates unattended with automated startup, shutdown and offers remote monitoring capability. The bids were required to offer system capital costs less than a comparable photovoltaic system and have an operation and maintenance cost lower than the wholesale rate for power (~$0.03 kWh). (SolarAccess, 20/09/02)

Schott Applied Power will close its Redway, California retail store, purchasing department and customer service operation over the next two months citing a strategic shift in focus from being a “one stop shop for the parts and pieces that go into a PV system” toward being a “true system integrator.” While SAP will continue to make component sales to dealers a core part of the business, the company will target electrical contractors who would like to install PV systems along with the more traditional electrical installations. (SolarAccess, 18/09/02)

Volkswagen AG, based in Wolfsburg, Germany, has signed a co-operation agreement with BP Solar to promote the use of photovoltaic technology by equipping both new and existing VW car dealerships with solar roofs. The aim is to realize the first 50 projects by the end of 2003. (Solarbuzz, 18/09/02)

Solar Energy Systems (SES) of Australia has reported positive end of financial year (2001/02) results. Both Total Income and Gross profit for the full year saw significant growth on the previous year, 76.7 percent and 172 percent respectively. Sales received for the six months to June 2002 represent the most significant growth in sales in SESs short history. Sales growth came from both Western Australia on the back of the rebate program introduction, and encouragingly from the New South Wales market, where no rebate program is in place. Sun Mills sales revenues for the full financial year represent a 132 percent growth on the previous year. (SES Press release, 13/09/02)

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