SolarSummary: December 3 – 9, 2002

by Kirsten Elder

Companies in the news

ARISE Technologies Corp

AstroPower

Duke Solar

BP Solar (Eco Solar)

Evergreen Solar

Matsushita Electric Works

Nanosys Incorporated

New Horizon Energy

Sharp Corporation

Emerging Technologies

Nanosys Incorporated and Matsushita Electric Works have entered into a collaborative agreement for the development of nanotechnology based solar cells for the Asian building materials market. The collaboration will combine the proprietary inorganic nanocrystal and nanocomposite technologies from Nanosys with Matsushita’s high volume, low cost manufacturing technologies to develop solar cells with dramatic cost and performance benefits. Matsushita Electric Works intends to incorporate these devices into building materials for residential and commercial facilities in Asia. (Solarbuzz.com, 05/12/02)

New Products

Evergreen Solar, Inc. has announced that it has developed the latest advancement in its proprietary String Ribbon technology for manufacturing solar cells that involves simultaneously growing two silicon ribbons, rather than one, from each crystal growth furnace. The Company expects this development to more than double the output of its crystal growth furnaces. The Company expects to introduce double ribbon into production in late 2003 with new furnaces as well as retrofitting existing furnaces. Evergreen Solar has filed a patent for the process. (Evergreen Solar, 04/12/02)

Sharp Corporation has announced the development of a new solar cell resin film which could enable the recycling and marketing of used solar modules. The resin has been tested on an experimental basis. A resin layer is combined between the encapsulated cells and the rear protective film. The process makes possible removal of the back protective layer of the module (having detached the frame and junction box) and the application of a new back protective sheet followed by re-framing and attachment of a junction box. Rear protection of the module is thereby seen as the factor projected to limit module life. Future re-processing and re-use of solar modules, rather than disposal, is seen as an important objective along with cost reduction and efficiency improvement. Sharp plans to test the new film and relevant technology until fiscal 2005 when it plans to put solar cells mass-manufactured with them on the market, the company said. (Kyodo News via Solarbuzz.com, 04/12/02)

Applications

A state high school in Townsville, Australia has recently launched a research project that will determine what type of solar power technology would be appropriate for the city to generate electricity for the main grid. The project will test both polycrystalline solar technology and amorphous thin film technology. A specially designed computer system will allow for a direct comparison of the efficiency of both types of solar module. (SolarAccess.com, 06/12/02)

Washington County Airport will receive $104,500 in grants, of which $50,000 will be used to design and implement a solar-powered rotating beacon. “Every airport has a beacon. We want to convert ours to solar power,” said the airport manager. He explained that if successful, the beacon not only would be self-sustaining, but the airport may consider converting to solar power for all of its airport lighting. (The Observer-Reporter via Solarbuzz.com, 04/12/02)

Los Angeles port officials have agreed to provide the final $300,000 needed to put decorative lights on San Pedros landmark Vincent Thomas Bridge. A permit is still needed from the California Coastal Commission, which had disallowed an earlier application on grounds it was environmentally insensitive. However, the new design uses energy-efficient LED lights that run on solar power, which have been approved by environmentalists. (Daily Breeze via Solarbuzz.com, 05/12/02)

Atlantic City’s new Millennia Square neighbourhood, which is a mix of single-family and twin-style homes, will offer six solar-powered homes thanks to $231,613 from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), which developed the project. The neighbourhood is located in a section of the City that is undergoing a multi-million dollar revitalisation, spearheaded by the CRDA. (Earth Vision, 09/12/02)

Markets

According to the UK Energy Minister, Renewables UK – a new unit set up by the government to stimulate the UK renewable energy sector – is planning to undertake a collaborative study of the renewable supply chain covering all technologies, including photovoltaics, during 2003. This will identify strengths and weaknesses of the industry, and identify opportunities for UK companies. (Greenpeace UK via Delphi, 09/12/02)

The South African government‘s long-promised plan to provide free basic electricity to the poor has received the green light from the cabinet, albeit in a scaled-back form. The final plan, after an extensive pilot study launched by Minerals and Energy Minister two years ago, will be phased in and expanded over time. It will see about 1-million (rather than the original 3-million) of South Africa’s poorest households receiving a total of 50 kWh of electricity a month free. This will allow for the running of basic services such as lights, a radio and a two-plate stove for a month. In non-grid areas where mostly solar energy provides power, poor households will get a subsidy of up to 80% of the cost of electricity. (Business Day, Solarbuzz.com, 09/12/02)

Eco Solar, a BP Solar distributor, has signed an agreement with Luz del Sur, a power distribution company in southern Lima, Peru. The aim of the contract, the first of its type in Latin America, is to develop a photovoltaic grid-connected system programme. The initial objective is to install one hundred of these systems providing 500 kW of power for Luz del Sur customers. (Solarbuzz.com, 06/12/02)

The Botswana government has said the rural electrification programme will continue but at a reduced rate compared to that of the last two years of National Development Plan 8. This is because studies had shown that, in the majority of villages, there had been a low installation rate by consumers because of high connection costs resulting from high capital costs of connecting the villages. Another reason is that village electricity supply infrastructure is of a basic nature meaning that power load is not conducive to supplying high electricity consuming industries, hence discouraging establishment of such industries in rural areas. According to the Minerals, energy and water affairs minister, a Photovoltaic Master Plan is being formulated together with an institutional framework and strategies to optimise the implementation of solar electrification. (Daily News, Botswana via Solarbuzz.com, 06/12/02)

Policy & Incentives

The California Energy Commission is developing guidebooks to implement its Renewable Energy Program (REP) pursuant to Senate Bill 1038. As part of the public process, the Energy Commission’s Renewables Committee will conduct hearings on the draft guidebooks outlining the proposed structure for the REP overall, as well as the Existing Renewable Resources Account, Emerging Renewable Resources Account, and Renewable Resources Consumer Education Account. Solar Photovoltaics will be one of the technologies reviewed, including rebates for professionally and self-installed systems together with residential and municipal installation programmes. (Solarbuzz.com, 04/12/02)

The Dutch caretaker government has said it would increase subsidies for clean energy, a month after its earlier proposals triggered a storm of criticism from power firms and green groups as being too modest. Consumer groups, energy companies and environmental activists said the support levels that had been previously proposed were too low to stimulate development of new green power production for the 1.3 million Dutch households currently using electricity from clean sources. The government said it would raise the subsidy for sea-based wind farms, PV solar power, small-scale biomass and tidal and wave power to 6.8 cents per kWh from the previously proposed 5.0 cents. (Planet Ark [Reuters], 05/12/02)

Industry Reports & Events

AstroPower has been given an Enterprise Award in the Technology Growth Company category by the Eastern Technology Council, a greater Philadelphia organisation for technology leaders and companies. (SolarAccess.com, 05/12/02)

Elsewhere in Solar

New Horizon Energy Ltd has reached an agreement with Duke Energy, to gain access to a proven solar thermal power generation system developed by its wholly owned subsidiary, Duke Solar. The technology is currently in use at a number of locations, including in the US and Europe, producing economically viable, vertically integrated renewable energy. The Duke Solar process uses parabolic troughs tracking the sun to maximise the energy return. The concentrated rays of sunlight are used to heat liquids creating steam, which, in turn, drives turbines to create power. The technology can also be used in innovative roofing structures for commercial, industrial and domestic use. (Solarbuzz.com, 05/12/02)

Corporate News

Intercedent Ventures Ltd. announced that it has signed a Definitive Agreement with ARISE Technologies Corporation. ARISE is an energy technology company located in Ontario, dedicated to accelerating the use of solar energy in mainstream markets. ARISE has been conditionally approved to list on the Exchange subject to raising a minimum of CAN$1.2 million in its initial public offering. (SolarAccess.com, 05/12/02)

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