SolarSummary: April 29 – May 5, 2003

by Kirsten Elder

Companies in the news

Atersa www.atersa.com

BP Solar www.bpsolar.com

Carmanah Technologies www.carmanah.com

Evergreen Solar www.evergreensolar.com

PowerLight www.powerlight.com

RWE Schott Solar www.ase-international.com

SolarGen Solutions www.solargen.biz

New Products

Carmanah Technologies Corporation will celebrate the worldwide launch of its new i-SHELTER solar-powered illuminated bus shelter at the UITP Mobility & City Transport Exhibition in Madrid, Spain, May 5-8, 2003. The i-SHELTER is the company’s new solution for bus stop lighting: a completely self-contained, solar-powered bus shelter. (Solarbuzz.com, 05/05/03)

Applications

The first solar-powered road traffic signs in the UK are being installed in Swansea and Newport (South Wales) after being developed and supplied by SolarGen Solutions of Newport. (The Western Mail via Solarbuzz.com, 29/04/03)

Atersa, the Spanish PV company owned by AstroPower, has recently installed 216 semi-transparent solar PV laminates that cover the facades of three office buildings in the Technological Park of Boecillo, in Valladolid. The installation corresponds to a power of 32.85 kWp. (Solarbuzz.com, 29/04/03)

The Las Vegas Valley Water District plans to build two solar-power plants and install a leak detection system that could save 2.5 billion gallons of water in its first year under the agency’s proposed 2003-2004 budget. The solar-power facilities and leak detection system are among $34.2 million in construction projects proposed for next fiscal year. (Las Vegas Sun via Solarbuzz.com, 01/05/04)

BP Solar has completed building the largest solar array on the US east coast, at the site of a former oil and chemical storage facility on the Delaware River. The Paulsboro facility will generate 350,000 kWh a year, sufficient for 50 homes in the region, from an array of 5,880 panels. The project was funded by BP with assistance from the New Jersey Clean Energy Program that provides 50 percent rebates for green power systems and the Virginia Alliance for Solar Energy that fosters solar projects in the mid-Atlantic region. (Refocus Weekly, 30/04/03)

The Automobile Club of Southern California has installed 1,534 solar panels on part of its landmark headquarters complex as part of an ongoing effort to reduce energy dependency. The panels will produce about 100 kW or up to 10 percent of the complex’s electrical needs. PowerLight Inc. produced and installed the solar panel project. (Solarbuzz.com, 01/05/04)

Markets

The Rural Development Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu in India has issued its latest rural development policy note as part of its overall commitment to the economic development of the rural poor in the State. The plan states that the use of solar energy will be promoted for drying agricultural and other rural produce, for lighting of households, especially in remote areas and for street lighting. During the current year, Energy Plans will be drawn up in clusters of villages throughout the State and 1,000 Solar Photovoltaic streetlights will be installed on a pilot basis. (Solarbuzz.com, 01/05/03)

US Utility JEA and its partners have installed more than 300 percent of solar power than they expected to when Jacksonville’s first solar incentive program was announced on Earth Day last year. Today, JEA says that it remains the largest producer of solar power in the state of Florida, and the only utility in the nation to install solar systems in every high school in its service territory. JEA’s successful Solar Incentive Program takes Jacksonville one step further in its renewable power leadership. (Solarbuzz.com, 02/03/03)

Investments and Finance

The worlds largest solar park was inaugurated in Hemau, Bavaria this week. Over 32.000 solar modules with a maximum output of approximately 4 MW were installed on the area of a former ammunition depot. The cost of the project was approximately 18.4 million. Voltwork AG is offering participation in the project, a concept in which private investors can buy shares in the solar park and in return get an attractive net yield on a long-term basis. (Solarbuzz.com, 02/05/03)

Policy and Incentives

The New Jersey Renewable Energy Task Force – created in January to make recommendations on promoting the use and development of renewable energy in the State – presented its final report to the Governor last week. The Task Force recomm
ended doubling of the current RPS requirement to 4 percent by 2008 and establishing a new long-term requirement that New Jersey get 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. The Task Force reported that further analysis of the data might prove that an even larger RPS requirement for 2008 might be feasible. (Capitol Reports via Solarbuzz.com, 29/04/03)

Industry Reports and Events

The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) has developed a new database, the Commercial Solar Electric Installation Inventory, to provide information on commercial, industrial, institutional and utility owned or sited solar electric systems and to recognise the leadership of those companies that have chosen to run their facilities using solar electric power. The inventory will compile submissions from the US and around the world, recording installations to measure progress against the SEPA objective of increasing the penetration of on-grid and off-grid use of solar electric power. SEPA is now collecting information for the inventory at www.solarelectricpower.org/installation_inventory. All information submitted will be publicly available on the Web site. (SolarAccess.com, 29/04/03)

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have selected the top ten architectural and “green” design solutions that protect and enhance the environment. Five of the projects incorporate solar photovoltaic components and include a forensics laboratory, a child development centre and sea recreation facility. (Solarbuzz.com, 02/05/03)

Corporate News

Evergreen Solar, Inc. has announced that the Company is scheduled to release first quarter financial results for the period ending March 31, 2003, before market Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 7, 2003. An accompanying conference call will be held on the same day at 10:00 am ET. (Evergreen Solar, 02/05/03)

RWE Schott Solar Inc. has announced that Marc Roper has been appointed to Director of Sales and Dan Magni has been appointed to Director of Engineering. (Solarbuzz.com, 02/03/03)

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