SolarSummary: October 8 14, 2002

by Kirsten Elder

Companies in the news

Energy Conversion Devices

ECD (Bekaert ECD/United Solar Systems)

EnviroMission

Evergreen Solar

PowerLight Corp

Solar Dynamics

SolarWorld

Applications

EnBW, one of the largest German Utilities, today announced the inauguration a new 50 kW photovoltaic installation, which the company says is the largest Copper Indium Diselenide thin film (CIS) PV array in the world. This installation is viewed as the next step on the road to commercial production of the technology. The PV array is located at the technology park in Marbach, Germany. (Solarbuzz, 08/10/02)

The Arizona utility, Arizona Public Service Co., has said it plans by early next year to have a solar power plant with a production capacity of 1.5 MW, increasing to 5.5 MW in three to five years. The site is a 50-acre field full of PV panels, mirrors and reflectors near Prescott airport. Under an Environmental Portfolio Standard, APS and other investor-owned utilities must this year derive 0.4 percent of their power from renewable resources. For APS, that amounts to about 25 MW. APS must make up the difference between the solar power it generates and the required amount by purchasing hydro and wind power from other producers. (Arizona Republic via Solarbuzz, 08/10/02)

Applications to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) solar schools program are due by October 11, 2002. NYSERDA is sponsoring an opportunity for 50 schools to own and use a 2 kW grid-tied solar photovoltaic system as part of a four-year educational program called School Power Naturally. Solar Works, Inc. will be designing, installing, and servicing the PV systems on behalf of NYSERDA. Each fully installed PV System ($20,000 value) will cost the school $1,500 and will include ongoing service through to June 2006. (Solarbuzz, 08/10/02)

New York City has unveiled its largest commercial rooftop solar power system. The project was jointly funded through a public-private partnership by Clean Air Communities, NYSERDA and Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center (GMDC). The 115 kW system was built and installed by PowerLight Corporation of California, using state-of-the-art solar technology and zinc bromide batteries. The photovoltaic panels and advanced battery will collectively work as a solar energy system to generate and store electricity in coordination with Con Edisons network system. (Clean Edge, 08/10/02)

In the next step towards the construction of Australian company, EnviroMissions Solar Tower power station, New South Wales (NSW) Deputy Premier and Minister for planning, Andrew Refshuage, has declared the proposal a project of State Significant Development. Standing one kilometre high, the proposed tower would be the tallest structure on Earth and visible from space. The tower combines solar and wind power systems to generate Renewable Energy. State Significant Development now transfers the planning consent authority to the minister and will ensure a streamlined, seamless and time effective planning process. (SolarAccess, 09/10/02)

Markets

The World Resources Institute (WRI) will launch a project in China aimed at accelerating investments in the country’s sustainable business enterprises, especially in renewable energy, organic agriculture and clean technology. The project in China is the first time that the New Ventures investment model is being implemented in Asia. “As one of the world’s most attractive investment destinations, we want to help China’s sustainable business entrepreneurs to find the investments they need,” said Luiz Ros, project director of WRI’s New Ventures. (SolarAccess, 10/10/02)

In Thailand, the Department of Energy Development and Promotion has been transferred to the newly-established Energy Ministry and renamed as the Department of Renewable Energy Development and Energy Conservation. A core mission of the department is to develop solar power generation as a commercial alternative energy and reduce dependence on imported energy sources, which currently stands at 300 billion baht (almost $7 billion) a year. This requires developing local sources of materials, such a silica, which is currently imported. Researchers have already found that it is possible to reduce solar cell production costs by about 45 percent by producing silica from rice husks, which are abundant in Thailand and have high silica content. However, further research and development would need additional support from the government both financially and technically so that silica production from husks could be commercialised. (Bangkok Post via CNN Money, 14/10/02)

Bolivia’s government has secured provisional commitments for loans totaling approximately US$60mn towards a US$200mn rural electrification program. The provisional commitments have come from multilateral financing agencies such as the Andean Development Corporation (CAF), German development bank KfW and the World Bank. The Bolivian government will continue to seek other sources of financing and also expects to provide an undefined amount of funds itself. The project aims to provide power to 200,000 homes by extending distribution networks and install
ing solar power units in the more remote parts of the country over the next five years. However the government envisages an emergency program being implemented within the next 90 days. (Solarbuzz, 09/10/02)

At a meeting last week, representatives from Iran and Germany stressed the importance of developing a close mutual cooperation in the fields of water and electricity. According to reports the Iranian official said that there was suitable ground for cooperation between Tehran and Berlin for constructing solar plants in Iran and hoped Germany would start operation under the build, operate and transfer (BOT) scheme in this field as soon as possible. (IRNA via Solarbuzz, 11/10/02)

Investments and Finance

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) has announced the commencement of its Photovoltaic Program for commercial, industrial and institutional buildings. Interested parties must submit a pre-application by December 13, 2002, to participate in the Request for Proposal (RFP), which will be issued in January 2003. The funding available under the program will total $1 million for all selected projects. The purpose of CCEFs Solar PV Program is to stimulate the PV market and demonstrate the use of PV systems as a viable, distributed power-generation resource in Connecticut. (CCEF via Solarbuzz, 14/10/02)

Policy & Incentives

The US Department of Energy (DOE) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) signed an agreement last week that reaffirms the continuation of a partnership between the two that focuses on architectural design and education as tools to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy in buildings. (Solarbuzz, 09/10/02)

The state agency of Massachusetts that runs a $110 million fund to promote renewable energy projects has announced it is awarding $2.6 million in grants that could more than double the number of homes that get their electricity from solar panels. The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s renewable energy trust, which is funded by a small tax on business and consumer electric bills, said it expects the agency grants will also support another $9 million in nonprofit and private-sector funding for more than 250 solar photovoltaic panel installations across the state. (The Boston Globe via Solarbuzz, 10/10/02)

Industry Reports and Events

Solar Dynamics, a manufacturer of portable solar power systems, has been selected by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to present its business plan and product line at the 15th Industry Growth Forum being held in New York, October 29-30, 2002. Solar Dynamics is one of 43 competitively selected clean energy firms chosen to participate in the Industry Growth Forum. More than 100 financiers and representatives of the nation’s largest and most innovative companies will also participate in the forum. (SolarAccess, 07/10/02)

More than 200 people from African countries and the United States are expected to attend Africa 2002, a business-to-business conference scheduled this week in Phoenix. The conference hopes to highlight business opportunities between the two continents for products and technology such as solar power and other renewable energies, and water resource management. (Arizona Republic via Solarbuzz, 14/10/02)

Elsewhere in Solar

Bids have been invited for setting up India’s first integrated solar combined cycle power project in Mathania in Rajasthan. Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation is implementing the Rs907-crore project while the Rajasthan Power Distribution Agency has agreed to purchase all the power. DSD Dillinger of Germany, Larsen and Toubro and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd have been shortlisted under the prequalification process. The project is expected to be commissioned in 36 months and will use parabolic trough technology for collecting solar thermal energy. The project will receive funding of 128 million from KfW of Germany, US$45 million from the World Bank’s Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Rs50 crore each from the Government of India and the Government of Rajasthan. (Asia Africa Intelligence Wire via Solarbuzz, 10/10/02)

Corporate News

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) has announced that it has been awarded a cost-shared, three-phase subcontract by the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to develop new optically enhanced back reflector and improved deposition processes for amorphous silicon-based solar cells. NREL will incrementally fund more than $1.1 million of the approximately $1.4 million three-year, phased subcontract, with ECD providing the balance of the funds. (Solarbuzz, 10/10/02)

According to ECDs annual report, Bekaert ECD Solar Systems/United Solar Systems Corp., a joint venture of which ESD owns a 40 percent stake, needs $40 million between now and September 30, 2003 to cover its annual operating expenses. ECD has reportedly said it will put forward $12.2 million in the form of bridge loans to the subsidiary. The company contends the balance would come from loans from Bekaert and independent investors. The ECD chairman says the company expects to see the investment pay off in the near future, as sales of the solar shingles increase. (Detroit News via Solarbuzz, 10/10/02)

Evergreen Solar has made two appointments intended to increase the company’s exposure in the global solar electric marketplace. Peter Rusch has been named European Marketing and Sales Manager and Lance Barret as US National Sales Manager. (Evergreen Solar, 07/10/02)

Evergreen Solar has announced that the Company is scheduled to release third quarter financial results for the period ending September 30, 2002, before market Eastern Time on Wednesday, October 30, 2002. An accompanying conference call will be held on the same day at 11:00 a.m. ET. A live webcast of the conference call will be available online at www.evergreensolar.com. (Evergreen Solar, 14/10/02)

SolarWorld AG is aggressively pursuing worldwide exports of solar power by targeting a number of international markets. In Europe, efforts are directed at countries that offer public incentives and support for solar such as Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria and Spain. However, the company also intends to target developing count
ries that have no power grid network for its large, rural areas, and where solar power technology will be of central importance in the future. SolarWorld AG already sponsors a solar development project in West Africa. (Solarbuzz, 14/10/02)

++++