Nanosolar to Build the World’s Largest Solar Cell Plant
Nanosolar, Inc. announced last week that it will build a solar cell manufacturing facility that will eventually produce enough solar cells in one year to generate 430 megawatts (MW) of power. For comparison, worldwide solar cell production in 2004 was 1,109 MW, with only 138 MW in the United States, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Nanosolar plans to build the world-record-breaking manufacturing plant in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has started ordering volume production equipment for the facility. The company currently operates a pilot-scale facility in Palo Alto, California, and expects to achieve high production volumes through technology similar to the roll-to-roll printing presses employed by newspapers and other high-volume printers.
Using nanotechnology, the company can spray a thin film of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) onto an inexpensive foil, and the minute particles?on the scale of a billionth of a meter?will line up with each other, “self assembling” to form a layer of semiconductor. Such semiconductors form the heart of solar cells, allowing them to convert sunlight into electricity. The company uses a similar technology to add a transparent electrode layer on top of the semiconductor. According to Nanosolar, their planned manufacturing plant would cost $1 billion to build using conventional thin-film solar technologies, but will cost much less using roll-to-roll technology. To support the buildup to production, the company has raised $100 million through a combination of venture firms and a preferred stock offering. See the Nanosolar press releases (scroll down to see both press releases), the company’s description of its “Seven Areas of Innovation,” and the IEA statistics on worldwide solar cell production.
While the Nanosolar news could be truly revolutionary for the solar power industry, recent history suggests that the news should be approached with caution. Back in 2000, First Solar burst onto the scene with a new factory that used glass coating technology to manufacture thin-film solar cells at high production rates, expecting to produce 100 MW per year. However, after commissioning the plant, the company determined that the actual plant capacity was much lower. In 2002, the plant produced only 1.5 MW of solar cells. Last year, the plant reached a production capacity of 21.5 MW, and is currently ramping up production, with a goal of producing 40 MW this year and 75 MW in 2007. See the January 3rd, 2001, edition of this newsletter and the First Solar press releases from 2003 (PDF 31 KB) and 2005 (PDF 76 KB).
Florida Offers Clean Energy Rebates, Grants, and Tax Incentives
Florida Governor Jeb Bush signed last week the $100 million Florida Renewable Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency Act, which aims to diversify the state’s fuel supply and encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy. The act establishes a rebate program for solar photovoltaic electric systems and solar thermal systems installed on residential and commercial buildings. It establishes the Renewable Energy Technologies Grant Program, which will provide matching grants for research and demonstration projects associated with the development of renewable energy systems, alternative fuel vehicles, and other energy technologies. It creates tax incentives for the manufacture, sale, and use of hydrogen fuel cells and for the production, storage, and distribution of alternative fuels such as hydrogen, biodiesel, and ethanol. The act creates the Florida Energy Commission, a nine-member panel that will advise the state legislature on energy policy based on the guiding principles of reliability, efficiency, affordability, and energy diversity. Finally, the act provides a one-week sales tax holiday for the purchase of energy efficient products in early October. See the governor’s press release and the full text of Senate Bill 888.
Hawaii’s New Energy Bills to Boost Efficiency, Renewable Energy
Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle capped off her approval of a package of energy bills on Monday by signing Senate Bill 2957, which encourages renewable energy and renewable fuels. The new bill raises the limits on the state’s tax credits for solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, and wind energy systems and makes the tax credits permanent. To encourage homeowners to install cost-effective renewable energy systems such as solar hot water systems, the bill establishes a pilot project for utility financing of the systems, allowing homeowners to pay the cost through their electric bills over a period of time. To boost the use of biodiesel in Hawaii, the bill establishes a preference for biodiesel when the state government buys fuel. The bill also establishes programs to provide funds to conduct a statewide biofuels assessment; to assist the agricultural community with the development of energy projects; and for the research, development, and testing of hydrogen power technologies. See the governor’s press release and the full text of SB 2957.< /FONT>
The governor’s “Energy for Tomorrow” package also included three other energy bills?House Bills 2175 and 2848 and Senate Bill 3185?that she signed on May 12th and June 2nd. HB 2175 requires the state to lead by example, setting green building standards for state buildings; instructing state agencies to maximize their use of energy-saving contracts; appropriating $5 million for solar power systems on public schools; and requiring 20 percent of the state’s new vehicles to be hybrids, alternative fuel vehicles, or the most efficient vehicles in their class, with the percentage increasing to 35 percent in 2007 and to 75 percent in 2015. The bill also encourages new green buildings by giving them priority when they apply for construction permits. See the governor’s press release and the full text of HB 2175.
SB 3185 strengthens the state’s renewable energy requirements by removing language regarding utility profits and authorizing the state’s Public Utility Commission (PUC) to set penalties for failing to meet the standards. It removes links between fossil fuel costs and the price paid to renewable power producers, and allows the PUC to determine if utilities should absorb some of the impact of rising oil prices. It also establishes a public benefits fund for energy efficiency programs, and allows the PUC to decide if an independent agency should run the programs instead of the utilities. Finally, HB 2848 appropriates $200,000 to reconvene the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum to develop an action plan, timeline, recommendations, and benchmarks to meet the state’s energy self-sufficiency goals. See the governor’s press release and the full text of SB 3185 and HB 2848.
National Renewable Energy Conference Slated for October
DOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last week that they will co-host a national renewable energy conference focusing on elements of the President’s Advanced Energy Initiative, specifically biomass, wind, and solar energy research and commercialization. The conference, “Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural Renaissance,” is scheduled for October 10th through 12th in St. Louis, Missouri.
The purpose of the conference is to help create partnerships and strategies necessary to accelerate commercialization of renewable energy industries and distribution systems. DOE and the USDA hope the conference will attract attendees from a variety of sectors, including agriculture, energy, transportation, financial and investment, and federal and state government. See the DOE press release.
A number of important energy conferences are coming up this year, including the Southwest Renewable Energy Conference, starting on August 1st in Flagstaff, Arizona; Energy 2006, an energy management conference, starting on August 6th in Chicago; Solar Power 2006, starting on October 16th in San Jose, California; the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Workforce Conference, starting on November 8th in Troy, New York; and the Eleventh National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference, starting on December 3rd in San Francisco, California. And international travelers won’t want to miss the World Renewable Energy Conference, which runs from August 19th to the 25th in Florence, Italy.
EPA Introduces the World’s First Hydraulic Hybrid Delivery Truck
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled last week the first-ever hydraulic hybrid diesel delivery vehicle, which is expected to achieve a 60 to 70 percent improvement in fuel economy over a standard delivery vehicle. The vehicle combines a high-efficiency diesel engine with a unique hydraulic propulsion system that replaces the conventional drivetrain and transmission. Hydraulic pumps and tanks store energy, just as electric motors and batteries store energy in hybrid electric vehicles. And like other hybrids, fuel economy is increased in three ways: while braking, the vehicle’s kinetic energy is recovered and stored; while accelerating, the engine operates more efficiently; and when stopped or decelerating, the engine can be shut off. The EPA and UPS plan to evaluate the vehicle’s fuel economy performance and emissions during a series of tests in 2006, including the use of the vehicle for UPS deliveries in Detroit over the next several months. The hydraulic hybrid is the result of a partnership between the EPA, U.S. Army, UPS, International Truck and Engine Corporation, and Eaton Corporation. See the EPA Web site and the UPS press release.
EPA is also working to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy for trucks on the West Coast. The EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership aims to upgrade 400 trucks that run along Interstate 5 with upgrade kits that include aluminum wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires; aerodynamic add-ons for trailers; auxiliary power units and bunk heaters to reduce unnecessary idling; and exhaust treatment devices to reduce emissions. Through a partnership with Cascade Sierra Solutions, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Oregon’s Departments of Transportation and Energy, the EPA is offering the kits at a cost that will be paid back through fuel savings within one to three years. The EPA estimates that with full participation in the SmartWay program, it could save 3.3 to 6.6 billion gallons of diesel fuel annually by 2012. See the announcement on the EPA SmartWay Web site.
Toyota to Double its Number of Hybrid Models to 20 by 2015
Toyota Motor Corporation announced in mid-June that it will double the number of hybrid models it sells by early in the next decade and will accelerate its research and development of plug-in hybrid vehicles. Including its Lexus division, Toyota currently sells 10 hybrid models, although not all are available in the United States. Next year, the company plans to introduce vehicles that can run on ethanol in Brazil, and is considering introducing the vehicles in the United States.
In addition, the company will include a new advanced engine in its 2007 model year vehicles, which will go on sale this fall. The 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine is smaller and lighter and features computer-controlled variable timing for both the intake and exhaust valves, resulting in improved efficiency with reduced emissions. It will be mated to a continuously variable transmission with the goal of cutting fuel consumption by 5 percent. The plans are all part of Toyota’s efforts to meet its environmental goals. See the Toyota press releases on its future plans and the status of meeting its environmental goals.
Toyota hit a milestone in early June, when its worldwide sales of the Prius passed 500,000. The Prius is by far the most popular hybrid vehicle sold by the company; Toyota’s total hybrid sales just passed the 600,000 mark in March. The Prius is also being sold in China now, and to supply that market, Toyota launched a new factory in Changchun, China, in December 2005. See the Toyota press release.
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| Kevin Eber is the Editor of EREE Network News, a weekly publication of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). |
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