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Solar Plants in Space Could Be Viable Option

Scientists have long dreamed of acres of photovoltaic cells – kilometer-sized solar panels – in space beaming electricity to earth, but the cost has also been astronomical. The idea is that power would be beamed down to Earth in the form of microwaves or a laser; it would then be collected in antennas on the ground and converted to electricity. Now, with the high price of oil, the dream may become reality. A report led by the Department of Defense National Security Space Office concludes that satellites in a sunlit orbit could generate almost as much energy as all the world’s oil reserves each year. It could transform the U.S. from an energy importer to an energy exporter. Although critics say earth-based solar is more economical, space-based solar would operate 24 hours a day without the interference of clouds and adverse weather. It would take about 10 years to produce significant amounts of space-based solar if we started now. It would take several generations of satellites to get the technology to reasonably priced level. The report urges private investment in space-based solar and recommends the federal government sponsor demonstration projects and provide financial incentives. It recommends the US government spend […]

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REpower Announces 150 MW China Wind Power Project

Germany wind turbine manufacturer REpower announced its Chinese joint venture, RePower North, will construct a 150-megawatt (MW) wind farm on China’s coast, about 500 kilometers south of Beijing. The project will be REpower North’s first and one of REpower’s largest to date. Its 2 MW turbine – which can withstand the highest winds will be used.

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Innovalight Raises $28M

Innovalight, Inc., a privately-held firm developing silicon ink-based printed solar cells, has raised $28 million in new capital. With new financing in hand, the Company is relocating to a new 30,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Sunnyvale, California. The series C financing was led by Norway-based investor, Convexa Capital and supported by Scatec AS. Existing investors Apax Partners, ARCH Venture Partners, Harris & Harris Group, Sevin Rosen Funds and Triton Ventures also participated in this financing. “Innovalight is developing a very attractive approach to lower the costs of conventional solar energy,” said Bjorge Gretland, managing partner for Convexa Capital who joins the board of Innovalight. “The company’s silicon ink process to make cheaper solar cells offers huge potential to help accelerate growth in the overall solar market,” he added. Compared to solar modules in the market today, Innovalight has developed a proprietary technology that utilizes liquid processing of silicon to produce high-efficiency solar cells that have the potential to reduce solar costs by more than 50%. Innovalight recently elected Alf Bjorseth, Chairman of Scatec AS, to the company’s Board. Alf Bjorseth is founder, former president and chief executive officer of Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) — one of the largest vertically […]

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MMA Renewable Ventures Closes Solar Fund

MMA Renewable Ventures, LLC, a subsidiary of MuniMae (NYSE: MMA), has closed commitments for Fund III, a leveraged solar energy project finance fund with tax-advantaged equity investments from an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC). MMA Renewable Ventures will use the capital to finance, own and operate 10-15 megawatts (MW) of new distributed photovoltaic projects for customers across the U.S. MMA has constructed a diverse portfolio of PV projects, delivering a low risk renewable energy investment opportunity to Wells Fargo. The multi-project Fund III will streamline financing for solar electric systems at more than 30 sites including commercial, utility, and municipal organizations. MMA Renewable Ventures will manage all of the solar generation assets and deliver predictably priced electricity to the customers under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). With the close of MMA Renewable Ventures’ Fund III, the company has arranged financing for a total of $300 million worth of solar energy projects under PPAs in seven states, resulting in 30 MW of new solar development. Though most emerging markets are struggling to find institutional capital in the midst of the current credit crunch, MMA Renewable Ventures has lined up a who’s who of the nation’s most risk-averse financial […]

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The Ups and Downs of Martek Biosciences

URL: http://seekingalpha.com/article/49795-the-ups-and-downs-of-martek-biosciences?source=yahoo Website: http://seekingalpha.com/article/49795-the-ups-and-downs-of-martek-biosciences?source=yahoo     

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