Photovoltaics

DuPont to Invest $175 Million in Final Phase of Critical Tedlar® PVF Film Expansion for Durable Photovoltaic Modules

Wilmington, Del., Jan. 18, 2010 - DuPont announced an investment of $175 million to complete the multi-phase expansion of its high-performance DuPont™ Tedlar® PV2001 series oriented film production line. This investment is in addition to $120 million in capacity expansions, announced in August 2009, for raw materials used to make the film, bringing the total commitment of these two phases to $295 million.

Tedlar® films serve as the critical component of photovoltaic backsheets, providing long-term durability and performance for photovoltaic modules in all-weather conditions.    » read more »

Using Wind Expertise and Proven Technology, GE Makes Solar More Reliable

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- December 09, 2009 -- Technology used in GE’s (NYSE:GE) wind turbines, known for proven performance and reliability, is now bringing similar benefits to large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Building on a platform of power electronics, monitoring and controls that enhance wind energy grid integration, GE has developed a 600 kW solar inverter, which includes grid-friendly features to deliver performance in large-scale solar installations similar to conventional power plants.    » read more »

Company Enters Module Manufacturing to Meet Fastest Growing Segment of Solar Market

SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 17, 2009 — DuPont Apollo Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of DuPont, announced the opening of its silicon based thin-film photovoltaic module manufacturing facility. The facility demonstrates the company’s commitment to reduce dependence on fossil fuels by supporting renewable energy technologies such as solar energy.    » read more »

Midland, MI - November 12, 2009 -- The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) announced today that they had recently signed a multi-year research collaboration that is strategic to both organizations’ interests in solar energy.

The arrangement is aimed at aligning Dow’s capabilities in CIGS based materials with Caltech’s research in next generation photovoltaics. Together, they expect to develop new, ultra low cost, high efficiency photovoltaic materials.    » read more »

14 October 2009 -- NISKAYUNA, New York and Herzliya, Israel, October 14, 2009 – SolarEdge, whose technology increases solar power systems’ output by up to 25 percent, announced today that GE (NYSE: GE) unit GE Energy Financial Services has joined a US$23 million funding round to support growth in residential and large-scale photovoltaic sites.

SolarEdge’s other investors are US venture capital leaders Opus Capital and Walden International, the Israeli funds Genesis Partners and Vertex Venture Capital, and the Singaporean fund JP Capital Asia.    » read more »

Bulk and Specialty Gases, Equipment and Engineering Set for New China PV Plant

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. (October 13, 2009) – Air Products (NYSE:APD) today announced it has signed a turnkey gas supply contract to provide its SunSource™ Solutions liquid bulk and specialty gases, related gas distribution equipment, and engineering services to DuPont Apollo (Shenzhen) Limited at its new amorphous silicon thin-film photovoltaic (PV) facility in GuangMing New District, Shenzhen, China.    » read more »

BRUSSELS, June 22, 2009 – Photovoltaic solar electricity is poised to become a significant and competitive supplier to the European electricity market, concludes a comprehensive study conducted by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) with the strategic management consultancy A.T. Kearney.

The SET For 2020 study (www.setfor2020.eu) explores different deployment scenarios: Under business-as-usual conditions, photovoltaic power should supply between 4% and 6% of Europeans’ electricity needs by 2020. However, photovoltaic power could supply as much as 12% of EU electricity demand by 2020 – up from less than 1% at present – if more favourable conditions are established by European policy makers, regulators and the energy sector at large.    » read more »

06/18/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the statement below following the California Public Utilities Commission’s approval of a solar photovoltaic (PV) program for Southern California Edison that will result in the deployment of 500 megawatts of PV on existing commercial rooftops in Edison’s service territory:

“This is a great step toward our vision of one day seeing solar panels on millions of rooftops across the Golden State. In order to meet California’s long-term renewable energy and climate change goals, we need a mix of renewable sources and projects of all sizes - all of which are underway - spurring innovation and creating green jobs in our state.”

For more information, go to: www.cpuc.ca.gov.

Source: California Governor

June 4, 2009 -- The Center for Revolutionary Solar Photoconversion (CRSP) will play an integral role in a new federally-funded effort to develop revolutionary solar cell designs at the nanoscale.

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the lead organization of CRSP, and will partner with Los Alamos National Laboratory and share in a $19 million grant over five years by the U.S. Department of Energy for a joint Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) named the Center for Advanced Solar Photophysics. Two universities that also belong to CRSP - the University of Colorado at Boulder and the Colorado School of Mines – will participate in the new EFRC as well.    » read more »

Company files plan to increase energy-efficiency by 50 percent in 10 years

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (June 2, 2009) -- Progress Energy Florida's customers have saved $1 billion since 1981 by participating in energy-efficiency programs, and the company is proposing a plan that would save customers even more money.

The company filed a 10-year plan with the Florida Public Service Commission Monday to increase the company's existing energy-efficiency goal of 412 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) by nearly 50 percent throughout the course of the plan. The plan also outlines Progress Energy Florida's forward-thinking approach to:

* Encouraging customer adoption of solar power and other promising alternative and renewable energy technologies;    » read more »

Agreement covers 66 MW including a 46 MW single installation. BP Solar to supply crystalline PV modules with an innovative energy guarantee.

28 May 2009 -- RGE Energy AG is partnering with BP Solar in planning one of the world's largest solar projects. The large-scale PV installation with over 46 megawatt peak (MWp) will be built in Koethen, Saxony-Anhalt. Around 210,000 crystalline photovoltaic modules with an output of 220 watt peak each will be supplied by BP Solar and installed by RGE Energy AG.

Reyad Fezzani, CEO of BP Solar, and Elias Issa, CEO of RGE Energy AG, announced the news in Munich at 'Intersolar', the world's largest solar exhibition.    » read more »

Collaboration expected in energy analysis, wind and photovoltaic research

May 28, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has signed a research collaboration agreement with the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN). NREL and ECN will join forces on areas such as policy studies, energy analysis, wind energy and solar photovoltaic energy.

The cooperation between ECN and NREL ranges from an exchange of expertise, to participation in joint projects, to making use of each others’ research facilities and conducting research on their behalf. In addition, NREL and ECN will support each other in the arenas of technology transfer and commercialization.    » read more »

May 27, 2009 -- CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Kennedy Space Center today, Sen. Bill Nelson and Reps. Suzanne Kosmas and Bill Posey joined officials from Florida Power & Light Company and NASA to celebrate the groundbreaking of FPL’s Space Coast Next Generation Solar Energy Center.

The new solar photovoltaic power facility is the result of a unique public-private partnership between FPL and NASA and demonstrates both organizations’ commitment to bringing clean-energy solutions to the state.    » read more »

New York Power Authority Plans to Advance Statewide 100 MW Photovoltaic Project to Help Implement Governor’s Clean Energy Agenda, Increase Energy Independence and Create Clean Energy Jobs

May 15, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced the largest solar photovoltaic project in New York, which will help the State meet its energy needs, foster the development of solar technologies and stimulate the economy with new clean energy jobs.

This initiative follows on the heels of the Governor’s recently announced 50 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project, lead by the Long Island Power Authority. Together, these projects totaling 150 MW would position New York as the State with the second highest installed PV capacity.    » read more »

Expansion expected to generate energy equal to powering more than 1300 homes annually

March 22, 22009 -- “Increasing the use of solar energy is the right thing to do for the environment and makes tremendous business sense, especially in these economic conditions,” said Kimberly Sentovich, Wal-Mart’s California regional general manager. “Thanks to Governor Schwarzenegger’s leadership, California is an excellent environment for us to grow our investment in renewable energy and help create more green jobs for America. Wal-Mart is excited to continue collaborating with our partner BP Solar on expanding our solar footprint.”    » read more »