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Solar Depot Acquired by Japanese Firm

California-based Solar Depot, Inc., a wholesale distributor and systems integrator of solar PV and thermal systems, has agreed to be acquired by Japan’s ITOCHU International Inc. ITOCHU, a diverse global trading company with $22 billion in annual revenues, recently established a solar division. Its Machinery Group has been supplying solar module manufacturing equipment globally for several years. Solar Depot has been operating for 28 years. Headquartered in Petaluma, CA, it has full-service branches in Sacramento and Corona, CA. Its business is mostly in California, where it has a strong market share the residential market. ITOCHU plans to aggressively market Solar Depot’s business across the US. ITOCHU’s target is to have a $1 billion solar business globally by 2010. Website: [sorry this link is no longer available]     

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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:June 27, 2007

News and EventsDOE Awards $375 Million for Three Bioenergy Research Centers DOE to Invest $60 Million for Solar Energy Research DOE Awards $4 Million to Two Wind Turbine Blade Test Facilities BLM and U.S. Forest Service to Consider Expanded Geothermal Leasing New System Will Certify Renewable Power Generation in the West Global Annual Investment in Renewable Energy Hits $100 Billion Energy ConnectionsChina Now Leads in Total Carbon Dioxide Emissions, Says Report News and EventsDOE Awards $375 Million for Three Bioenergy Research CentersDOE announced yesterday that it will invest up to $375 million in three Bioenergy Research Centers in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Madison, Wisconsin; and Berkeley, California. The centers will focus on understanding how to reengineer biological processes to develop new methods for converting the cellulose in plant material into ethanol or other biofuels that serve as a substitute for gasoline. Future biofuels production will require the use of feedstocks more diverse than corn, including cellulosic material like agricultural residues, grasses, poplar trees, inedible plants, and non-edible portions of crops.The diverse teams of researchers at the centers will hail from 18 of the nation’s universities, seven DOE national laboratories, at least one nonprofit organization, and a range of private companies. Work […]

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Chrysler Group Joins U.S. Climate Action Partnership

The Chrysler Group announced it would join the United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) and endorse mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions. USCAP, a partnership of major companies and NGOs, issued earlier this year a blueprint of principles and recommendations for establishing a multi-sector, market-driven program to swiftly slow, stop and reverse the growth of greenhouse gas emissions. The group has recommended that Congress establish short- and mid-term emission reduction targets; a national program to accelerate technology research, development and deployment; and approaches to encourage action by other countries, including the developing world. “Now is the time for advancing a national approach to climate change where all of us – individuals, industry and government – take action toward reducing emissions of greenhouse gases,” said Tom LaSorda, President and CEO, Chrysler Group. “We are proud to be an active member with USCAP in the development of climate policy that addresses energy use and emissions from all sectors of the U.S. economy, and ultimately drives increased energy efficiency. “We look forward to working with the USCAP members in formulating a system to control greenhouse gas emissions in a way that not just addresses the supply of energy-efficient products and commodities, but also […]

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REEEP Funds 35 Clean Energy Projects

The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) announced it will fund 35 clean energy projects. “The REEEP portfolio is moving beyond a collection of good projects to being more strategic. We have started the replication and scale-up of successful projects in the past and have also started commissioning specific projects,” said Morgan Bazilian, REEEP Program Board Chair. “We are also pleased to be working closely with the governments of Argentina, Ecuador and Uganda as they formulate national renewable energy policy and legislation.” The increased funding was driven by new donor contributions in March when the Norwegian government announced a three-year pledge of EUR 3.7 million. Norway joined the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy and New Zealand as a project donor government. Norwegian funding is focused on supporting several projects in Brazil, China and India. One is developing a financial mechanism to stimulate energy efficiency in buildings, and another will develop a national action plan for rural biomass. Norwegian funding will also establish a renewable energy fund in West Africa and promote biomass gasifiers in India. “We need to do what we can to ensure that developing countries make a technological leap forward, bypassing polluting technologies and increasing the share of […]

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Headwaters Receives EPA Green Chemistry Award

Headwaters Inc. (NYSE:HW) has been awarded The Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Chemistry award for a project that replaces chlorinated oxidants. EPA’s Green Chemistry Program promotes the research, development, and implementation of innovative environmentally benign, cost effective chemical technologies. The Direct Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide by Selective Nanocatalyst Technology (NxCat) was developed by Dr. Bing Zhou and members of Headwaters Technology Innovation. NxCat is a nanocatalyst technology that enables the synthesis of H2O2 directly from hydrogen and oxygen. Except for its historically higher price, H2O2 is an excellent substitute for the more frequently used–and far more deleterious–chlorinated oxidants. The NxCat(TM) technology produces a cost effective, environmentally preferable oxidant (H2O2), and is expected to be the oxidant of choice for synthesis of major industrial chemicals. A palladium-platinum catalyst eliminates hazardous reaction conditions and chemicals of the conventional process, along with undesirable byproducts. It produces H2O2 more efficiently, cutting both energy use and costs. It uses innocuous, renewable feedstocks and generates no toxic waste. In partnership with Degussa AG, a major H2O2 manufacturer, HTI has demonstrated its technology and is preparing to begin commercial production in 2009.

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Geothermal: Out From Under a Rock

URL: http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/27/news/economy/geothermal/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote Website: http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/27/news/economy/geothermal/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote     

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Q-Cells Opens Japan Office

Q-Cells AG (QCE.DE), the world’s solar cell manufacturer, is opening an office in Japan today to strengthen its global position. Japan is the world market leader in the production of photovoltaic systems. “We have long established, strong relationships with wafer manufacturers and other suppliers in Japan. We intend to develop these through our local presence”, explains Anton Milner, CEO Q-Cells.” “We have been acting as supplier to a major Japanese module manufacturer for a long time”, says Milner. “Despite strong competition from Japanese companies, we see definite market opportunities for ourselves. position. Said Bjorn Sandberg, Branch Manager, “We share a common goal with our colleagues at Japanese companies: we want to make solar energy the main energy source of the future, as quickly as possible.” Partnership-based cooperation and a mutual exchange of experience are very important for this. Q-Cells also has offices in China and Hong Kong. Employees from the office manage sales activities in the Asian-Ocean region, including South Korea (one of the most important photovoltaic growth markets at this stage) and India, which could prove extremely important in the future market.

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