Industry headlines

A small town centre public toilet block powered by solar panels is selling electricity to the National Grid to offset its energy bill. The loos in Llanidloes, Powys, have been kitted out with panels to heat water, power hand dryers and lights. The company behind the project said the toilets could produce about one kilowatt of electricity, with surplus power sold to the National Grid. Click here for full story

The largest solar power system ever mounted on a building in the southern hemisphere has been switched on in the red heart of Australia. The rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installation is expected to generate 40 and 80 per cent of the energy requirements of the Crowne Plaza hotel in Alice Springs. Speaking from the desert town on Wednesday, hotel general manager Adam Glass said the system would help the Crowne Plaza reduce its annual carbon footprint by 420 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Click here for full story

Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner articulates why renewable energy especially solar energy is a key part of Europe's external policy development challenges and secure our energy future. Click here for full story

The trickle of eco-phones is about to become a flood, if today's announcement of a solar-powered mobile from LG is any indication. The as-yet-unnamed handset has photovoltaic solar cells embedded in its battery cover " to conveniently harness the sun's limitless and pollution-free energy." The panels, which take up most of the back panel of the phone, can gather and convert enough solar power in ten minute's of bright sunlight to power a three-minute phone call, and are claimed to be able to recharge the phone completely "'if left in natural light for long periods." Click here for full story

Ö. The runner-up in the competition was Swedish company Opcon with its Powerbox, which converts waste heat into energy and an award for best emerging technology went to Polysolar, based near Cambridge, for a transparent, photovoltaic architectural glazing to create low-cost solar energy in buildings. Click here for full story

As pressure increases to boost renewable energy sources in the face of global warming, the Federal Government has declared that a company that wants to manufacture solar cells is of "strategic importance" to Australia. Considerable home-grown expertise on renewables has been lost to Australia in recent years, with local innovators unable to win financial backing. Now a company called Spark Solar Australia has been awarded "major project facilitation status" by the Federal Government for its planned $60 million high-tech solar cell factory. Click here for full story

Plans for a new Spurs stadium have come under fire from Heritage groups. Fifteen historic buildings would have to be pulled down if the club’s 20-acre, 60,000 seater Northumberland Development Project in White Hart Lane goes aheadÖÖ. Meanwhile local Greens are urging the club to add solar panels to the roof of its new home. Tottenham and Wood Green Friends of the Earth say this will save energy and make the stadium one of the UK’s leading green buildings. The group has carried out research showing that the stadium could use photovoltaic panels to save 355 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. It could be the biggest solar panel installation in the UK. Click here for full story

Renewable energy needs to become a lot more renewable - a theme that emerged at the Financial Times Energy Conference in London. Although scientists are agreed that we must cut carbon emissions from transport and electricity generation to prevent the globe's climate becoming hotter, and more unpredictable, the most advanced "renewable" technologies are too often based upon non-renewable resources, attendees heard. Supratik Guha of IBM told the conference that sales of silicon solar cells are booming, with 2008 being the first year that the silicon wafers for solar cells outstripped those used for microelectronic devices. Click here for full story

Several years ago, scientists determined that a small section of the Sahara desert, amounting to just over 1 percent of its total area, could provide as much electricity as all of the world’s power plants combined. Now, Europe is looking to harness the heat of the African desert for solar energy, since about 0.3 percent of the light falling on the Sahara could power the whole of Europe. European Union members have considered implementing a long-term program over the next several decades. Click here for full story

US wave power firm Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) has appointed the head of its UK operations as the firm's new chief executive. The new chief was announced today as former Powergen engineer Mark Draper, who has served as the company's chief operating officer since June 2007 and as the director of the company's Warwick-based European subsidiary since September 2004. Click here for full story

3M Co. has formed a renewable-energy division, as the diversified manufacturer aims to increase its presence in the growing solar and other alternative-energy markets and offset pressures on its other businesses. While traditional businesses are being hurt by the economic downturn, the overall solar market is growing. 3M Chief Executive George W. Buckley said in September the solar market is forecast to grow to $50 billion in 2012, from $20 billion in 2008. Solar "is really just a quite massive opportunity for 3M," Buckley told a 3M-hosted investor day at the time. 3M, whose products range from Scotch tape and Post-It notes to furnace filters and power lines, already generates about $200 million annually from its solar- related products, a figure that is growing 20% annually, Buckley said. Click here for full story

Taking a leaf from the beauty industry, scientists have devised a way to make solar panels cheaper and more efficient - by spraying them on. Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU), solar company Spark Solar Australia, and Finnish materials company Braggone Oy are collaborating on a three-year project that could transform the production of solar cells. Click here for full story

The student union at the University of Central Lancashire is now one of the greenest in the UK, thanks to the installation of 270 photovoltaic panels. Preston based Energi Holdings, a supplier of renewable technologies, successfully installed the Sharp Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof of the student union's 53 Degrees building. The building's panels will generate 36,800kWh of electricity per year, which is enough to power laptops for over 500 students, supply electricity to 8 houses or make 1,840,000 Pot Noodles. Click here for full story

The Spanish PV market grew by more than 2661MW of new installed power in 2008. As a result, the global PV market has grown by around 5600MW.s enormous 100% increase compared with the 2007 figure explains part of the scarcity and high module prices in 2008. But, with a cap of 500MW in 2009, it also means that the Spanish market will decrease in size by at least 80% (or more than 2100MW) this year. And that is bad news for the global PV industry as it faces an oversupply situation and bad economic times. However, this turns into good news for the customer, as prices along the supply chain have decreased by at least 20-40%. Click here for full story

Researchers in Antarctica work in the coldest (and windiest) place on the planet. The extreme conditions are tough, and it’s a challenge to deliver supplies like fuel and generators to keep equipment working, and keep the scientists there from freezing solid. According to a Reuter’s article, renewable energies are gaining popularity among the hearty group of people working in Antarctica. Despite challenges of installing in harsh cold and extreme winds, more solar panels and wind farms are popping up on the frozen landscape. Click here for full story

With more than 11 acres of factory operations housed in a cluster of century-old buildings in Queens, Steinway & Sons is keenly aware of the need for energy-saving technology to power its piano manufacturing processes. That's one reason the 156-year-old company has installed the largest solar-powered rooftop system in the world to provide cool air to dehumidify the factory and protect the precision pianos inside. The $875,000 solar system is partly funded through a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and through federal tax credits. It will function as a beta site for the tri-state area. Click here for full story

The UK Solar PV Manufacturers Association is launching a new campaign to promote the use of solar power in the UK. The campaign "We Support Solar" (www.wesupportsolar.net) has already attracted the support of MPs on all sides of the House of Commons, and is endorsed by campaign groups Friends of the Earth, the World Future Council, Greenpeace and the Green Alliance, as well as the European Photovoltaic Industry Association and Renewable Energy Association. Click here for full story

Rainbow Solar unveils the world's most powerful commercial solar panel at the GoGreen EXPO (Los Angeles). The DSO SUPER-PV, a 60-cell, standard-size, mono-crystalline photovoltaic-module with a 350 watt-OUTPUT rating, an incredible 160 to 200% power-output over industry's top 220 watt-peak modules. 2009 Production capacity of 120 megawatts, at conventional Photovoltaic pricing. RSi believes this will become the standard for all future photovoltaic systems. RSi plans to license the SUPER-PV technology to PV and module companies globally. DSO is working with LEED-AP and AIA professionals to realize 'self-powered-buildings' (SPB), by converting the entire building surface into an energy-collector, utilizing advanced technologies such as the PV-Glass-Window and SUPER-PV. Click here for full story

Novel actuator technologies are giving the level of fine control required to ensure that industrial activities reach new levels of efficiency and cost effectiveness. Sean Ottewell reports. Rotary actuators play an integral role in the world's third largest concentrated solar power plant, known as Nevada Solar One. The rotary actuators are used to rotate and tilt a series of parabolic mirrored troughs, so that they are able to track the sun's motion for maximum efficiency, and protect the arrays from high winds and dust storms. Click here for full story

The decision by the Department of Energy and Climate Change to boost solar PV funding by £7 million raises concerns about the future of renewable energy in Britain, a UK solar firm has said. London-based solar company Solarcentury welcomed the move to grant the funds to solar PV installations under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP), but said that important questions still remain unanswered about future funding for green energy. Click here for full story

Photovoltaic panels installed on a school will help reduce its energy costs while educating pupils about renewable energy. The Buckie Community High School yesterday switched on 24 photovoltaic panels installed on its roof. Over the course of a year the photovoltaic panels are expected to generate 3,300 kilowatt hours of renewable energy - the equivalent of 180,000 cups of tea. Click here for full story

The world's largest solar module maker, Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd, said it laid off 10 percent of its 8,000-strong workforce last quarter and had suspended a plan to expand capacity by 40 percent in 2009 due to weak demand. "The company was planning to expand capacity. But we made the decision to suspend it, judging from the impact of financial crisis and the real market conditions," a spokeswoman said, confirming media reports. Click here for full story

The world premiere of screen printing lines for flexible solar panel production will be amongst the techniques demonstrated at what is billed as the ëEuropean Showcase of Breakthrough Spartanics-Systec Technology for Screen Printing and Laser Cutting’. Click here for full story

The leaders of America’s solar and wind energy trade associations last Friday held a joint news teleconference to highlight immediate action needed to achieve President-elect Obama’s vision for alternative energy. The two executives discussed the impact of the global economic crisis on the renewable energy industries and the urgent need for immediate Congressional action to ensure that the momentum these industries have built up over the past decade continues. The solar and wind industries have experienced record-breaking growth in recent years and demonstrated their ability to create tens of thousands of jobs. But projects are now being put on hold and workers laid off because available tax incentives are ineffective in current financial market conditions. Click here for full story

Toshiba has entered the solar energy market in a big way with the launch of a dedicated Photovoltaic Systems Division. The new unit forms part of Toshiba's Transmission Distribution and Industrial Systems Company, and has been created to address the surge in demand for solar photovoltaic systems. Toshiba will focus primarily on large solar power generation systems, such as megawatt-scale projects for utility and industrial plants.  Click here for full story

Two Chinese companies on Friday announced plans to build a solar power plant in northwestern China that could one day be the largest photovoltaic solar project in the world. The news helped spur a rally in shares of solar power companies that was also underpinned by higher oil prices and a strong rise the broader market. China Technology Development Group Corp and privately held Qinghai New Energy Group will begin building a 30 megawatt solar power station in China's Qaidam Basin this year with an initial investment of $150 million, they said in a joint statement.  Click here for full story

Energy from the sun will soon provide some of the electricity at the Grand Canyon Visitors Center. The 18-kilowatt system to be installed by late spring is about twice the size of the largest household systems and will provide about 30% of the facility's electricity. That should save the National Park Service about $2,500 a year.  Click here for full story

A training academy says it is preparing itself for a surge of interest in renewable energy training courses. The Connaught Academy in Caerphilly, says it is receiving an increasing number of enquiries from plumbers and gas engineers wishing to widen their skills and prepare for growing demand for solar power. Connaught has already trained more than 50 people to install and maintain renewable energy equipment at the Academy over the past few months. The training focuses on increasingly popular solar water heating. Click here for full story

A Brighouse roofing and building company has become the first in the country to train its workers to install a revolutionary renewable energy product. Six roofers at Ploughcroft Building Services have so far completed training from UK solar energy company Solarcentury to fit its new solar electric roof slates. Ploughcroft managing director Chris Hopkins said: ìThe new solar slates are very relevant for us because there are so many slate roofs in the area where we work. ìIn fact, we have already had a number of requests for the product from local authorities and schools.î Click here for full story

Solar cells are expensive, so it makes sense to use them efficiently. One way of doing so is to concentrate sunlight onto them. That means a smaller area of cell can be used to convert a given amount of light into electricity. This, though, brings another costóthat of the mirrors needed to do the concentrating. Traditionally, these have been large pieces of polished metal, steered by electric motors to keep the sun’s rays focused on the cell. However, Cool Earth Solar of Livermore, California, has come up with what it hopes will be a better, cheaper alternative: balloons. Click here for full story

The most ambitious and innovative solar power project in the world kicked off Monday in the white-walled village in the southern Portuguese municipality of Moura, one of the most impoverished areas in the European Union. The Acciona Energy S.A. company has put into service the Amareleja photovoltaic power plant, located 150 km south of Lisbon, which is capable of producing enough energy to supply 30,000 households in the south-central region of Alentejo. Click here for full story

What if buying a solar electric system would be as easy as buying a new light bulb? The process of purchasing and installing a solar electric system does not have to be like putting together a complicated jigsaw puzzle anymore. [In the USA] ReadySolar will now offer their "Solar in a Box"(R)turnkey solar appliance through GoGreenSolar.com  Click here for full story

The world's second largest economy and fifth biggest emitter of greenhouse gases is making a renewed effort to spark uptake of solar power systems as it scrambles to meet its Kyoto obligations. Once the world's leader in solar panel production and still making a quarter of the world’s solar cells, the scrapping of Japan's solar subsidies in 2006 not only reduced solar uptake locally, but contributed to local solar panel makers Sharp being overtaken Gemany's Q-Cells and Kyocera trumped by China's Suntech in the global market. Click here for full story

The RSPB has today said that it will be looking into solar technology and biofuels as it tries to move towards reducing its carbon footprint, but it denies reports of a "grand scheme" to construct wind turbines around its estates. Click here for full story

Global revenue for photovoltaic (PV) panels is expected to plunge by 19 percent in 2009, following eight consecutive years of growth, as a massive oversupply puts pressure on pricing, according to a forecast by market research firm iSuppli Corp. Worldwide revenue from shipments of panels will decline to $12.9 billion in 2009, down from $15.9 billion in 2008, iSuppli said. A drop of this magnitude has not occurred in the last 10 years and likely has not happened in the entire history of the solar industry, according to the firm. Click here for full story

The sun shines on everyone ó but not in equal measure. That reality has long slowed the spread of solar power. Depending on where you live in the country ó or even where you live in your city ó the same array of photovoltaic solar panels can produce enough electricity to power your house with watts to spare, or barely cut a nickel from your utility bill. It all comes down to the precise amount of sunlight that hits your roofÖ.. The engineering company CH2M Hill is now joining hands with the U.S. Department of Energy to provide Internet solar maps of 25 American cities, using Google Earth technology to chart the precise solar potential of neighborhoods, literally rooftop by rooftop. Click here for full story

EDF Energies Nouvelles has announced the commissioning and official opening of the La Narbonnaise photovoltaic solar power plant in the Aude region of France. With a capacity of 7MWp, this facility is claimed to be the largest solar power plant currently in operation in mainland France.  Click here for full story

BP Solar announced the completion of its solar power construction program for Wal-Mart. The company recently completed construction of three sites in California, including the 493.7 kilowatt (kW) solar power system at the Sam's Club in La Habra, California, as well as systems at Wal-Mart Super Centers in Palm Springs (605.9 kW) and Beaumont (675.2 kW). The three systems totalling over 1.7 MW mark the final installations of BP Solar's 4.1 MW commitment to Wal-Mart as part of the retailer's solar pilot project. Click here for full story

A Swiss engineer completed Thursday the first ever round-the-world trip in a solar-powered car after more than 17 months on the road during which he crossed almost 40 countries. Louis Palmer, 36, arrived back in Lucerne in central Switzerland in his "solar taxi" after covering 53,451 kilometres (33,213 miles) over four continents.  Click here for full story

Europe's photovoltaic industry is growing rapidly and is now worth EUR 14 billion a year, according to the 2008 Status Report on Photovoltaics (solar energy technologies) released by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC). The report reviews global research, development, industry and policy efforts in photovoltaics throughout 2007 and sets out some recommendations. Click here for full story