An overview of the concept behind The Solarize Guidebook, which offers neighborhoods a plan for getting volume discounts when making group purchases of rooftop solar energy systems.

For more information see: Solar Energy for All: How-To Guides Encourage Growth of Solar Communities.

Source: Solar Energy Directory

Kyocera Solar, Inc., a leading supplier of reliable solar modules and renewable energy, announced that its solar energy systems will power over 2000 homes in the Fiji Islands. The solar projects are in partnership with Fiji’s Department of Energy and the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting project (Palm 5) with the goal to bring renewable energy to remote villages of the island nation. To date, 135 kilowatts have been installed and the remaining 270 kilowatts will be completed by the end of the year.

With these solar systems, rural villages are able to thrive without access to a traditional electric grid.  Each system will utilize Kyocera’s modules and the sun’s energy to provide basic lighting and other low-power needs on the islands.

Solar energy makes so much sense for island nations that often lack an electricity grid infrastructure but have an abundance of sunshine year-round,” said George Phani, sales manager for Kyocera Solar Australia. “With our Kyocera modules, many Fijians have been given light and other electricity into the night – maybe for the first time. We hope this program can serve as a template for other islands to follow.”

Kyocera has partnered with Powerlite Generators (Fiji) Limited to install 3,000 solar modules throughout Fiji. Each system includes at least one 135-watt Kyocera module, a regulator, maintenance-free batteries, and both indoor and outdoor lighting.

Kyocera Solar, Inc. is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona with regional sales affiliates in the Americas and Australia.

Source: Solar Energy Directory

Vivint Solar, a leading provider of simple, affordable solar solutions, today announced that it has expanded into California and is currently offering solar services to residents in the Bay Area.

With Vivint Solar, consumers have a money-saving, clean and renewable alternative to power their home. Vivint Solar customers save money on energy through the company¹s power purchase agreement (PPA), in which customers agree to purchase the power their solar panels generate at rates significantly lower than their typical power bill. In exchange, Vivint Solar designs, installs and maintains the system with no out-of-pocket costs for the customer, providing the benefits of renewable solar energy without a large, up-front investment.

“We’ve been interested in purchasing solar for our home for more than three years. However, all the companies we researched were either too expensive or wanted a large down payment,” said Andrew Taylor, a Vivint Solar customer in Concord, Calif.

“Vivint Solar’s affordability and reputation as an industry leader made it a quick and easy decision. The company’s installers were professional, courteous, arrived and finished on time and left no mess behind. We couldn’t be more pleased.”

Vivint Solar has paired premium solar equipment with a dedication to providing award-winning customer service to create the best overall experience possible for its customers. Each Vivint Solar installer completes a rigorous training course and is equipped with all the tools necessary to install each solar system quickly, efficiently and safely.

“We are pleased to be offering our solar solutions to the eco-conscious residents of the Bay Area,” said Tanguy Serra, president of Vivint Solar. “We have seen tremendous success in the other cities we offer our solar solutions, and plans are already underway to expand into other areas throughout California by the end of the year.”

In addition to California, Vivint Solar is also available in markets in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Hawaii. For additional information on Vivint Solar services and availability, visit http://www.vivintsolar.com

Source: Solar Energy Directory

Constellation, an Exelon company, has successfully implemented an aggregate 30-megawatt (DC) solar generation project for Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). Located across four separate sites in the Sacramento area, near Galt and Elk Grove, the ground-mounted solar arrays will generate more than 45 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year.

The utility scale solar project is part of SMUD’s Feed-In Tariff program which will create an additional 100-megawatts of solar generation in California. SMUD introduced the program in 2010 to offer standard rates and contract terms for renewable power generators.

Constellation’s solar project for SMUD is comprised of 380,250 FirstSolar 80 Watt Cadmium Telluride solar panels ranging from 18- to just 1-megawatt. Annually, the solar project will generate enough electricity to serve approximately 2,685 average American homes and save 21,530 metric tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to the emissions from 4,222 passenger vehicles.

“We’re proud to help SMUD meet its renewable energy goals and provide a long-term source of clean and emissions-free electricity to its more than half a million customers,” said Michael D. Smith, vice president of solar and energy efficiency sales for Constellation. “SMUD’s commitment to solar energy is a great example of the success of public and private partnerships in boosting the development of renewable generation.”

Constellation owns all four installations, with SMUD purchasing all of the electricity generated under 20-year power purchase agreements. Belectric provided engineering, procurement and construction services for this system, as well as a 20-year operations and maintenance contract.

Constellation currently owns and operates nearly 110 megawatts of solar installations that have been completed or are under construction for utilities, commercial, and public sector customers throughout the United States.

In California, Constellation currently owns or has developed solar projects for customers such as General Motors, University of San Francisco, Alcoa and the General Services Administration in Sacramento. By structuring projects as power purchase agreements, Constellation offers solar installations that may require no upfront capital from its customers and may provide fixed power costs that are lower than projected market rates.

Source: Solar Energy Directory

Blake Coughenour, a graduate research associate in the UA College of Optical Sciences, is among the graduate students working to optimize a new concept in solar energy production. Led by Roger Angel, director for the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab, the project carries the promise of providing a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

See Making Mirrors for the Sun for complete coverage of this ambitious project.

Source: Solar Energy Directory

Countries all over the world are leading the way towards a green economy. Unfortunately lobbying by the oil, gas, coal and nuclear industries are hindering progress. Very soon, perhaps even now depending on the cost of electricity in your area, solar technology will be more economically cost effective than traditional forms of electrical production.

Source: Solar Energy Directory

ATLANTA, GA—June 19, 2012—Renusol America, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, has announced that its American-engineered and manufactured mounting system—the Renusol CS60—has been installed at the Aquafil Headquarters in Cartersville as part of one of the state of Georgia’s largest solar PV energy systems. The 400 kWh system will generate 525-thousand KWh of power annually.

The project includes 1,572 Renusol CS60 mounting units and 1,572 of Suniva’s Optimus 250 W panels. Suniva is headquartered in Norcross, Georgia. Radiance Solar, a Georgia owned and operated solar contracting company, installed the system, which is interconnected to the Cartersville Electric System.

Aquafil, a chemical and textile firm and leader in carpet fiber technology, is known for producing fibers made from 100-percent recycled materials. The company takes its commitment to sustainability one step further with the installation of this solar system on top of its 234,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Cartersville.

The Renusol CS60 represents the latest in American technology and is the first-ever ‘one unit per one PV panel’ mounting system, which is changing how solar arrays are deployed on flat rooftops in America by eliminating the layout restrictions inherent to traditional, rigid aluminum racking rails. Manufactured in the Midwest, the Renusol CS60 offers several solutions developed specifically for the US solar market.

The Renusol CS60 innovation also incorporates the latest groundbreaking American-based wind tunnel study results showing how wind forces vary across a roof, making the flexible rooftop panel placement solution of the Renusol CS60 even more valuable.

“The Aquafil USA solar rooftop installation is emblematic of how the deployment of solar energy creating and keeping jobs right here in Georgia and across America , said Renusol America CEO Bart Leusink.

About Renusol America
Renusol America is a leading innovator in flat-roof and pitch-roofed mounting systems for Solar PV modules in the US solar industry. A U.S. company with systems installed in 18 states, Renusol America provides sales, service, and customer support from its headquarters in Atlanta , Georgia and operates full-scale warehouse and distribution facilities across the country. Building upon its heritage of excellence in German engineering with American innovation, in 2011 Renusol America introduced the groundbreaking, American-made Renusol CS60—the first one piece mounting system for PV panels. The company is part of the Centrosolar Group, a publicly traded company on the German stock exchange, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Renusol GmbH, a market leader in Europe with more than 500MW of solar power mounted on Renusol systems. More information at www.renusolamerica.com

Source: Solar Energy Directory

MICHAEL SHEPPARD, iSuppli.com

U.S. government antidumping penalties on imports of photovoltaic (PV) cells from China could suspend nearly half of solar module shipments to North America this year, impacting pricing, inventories and project timelines, according to an IHS iSuppli PV Perspectives report from information and analytics provider IHS (NYSE: IHS).

The U.S. Department of Commerce on May 17 announced a preliminary determination in its antidumping duty  investigation of imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from China. These cells are used in modules that form complete solar systems installed on houses, buildings or commercial PV-generation facilities.

Before this announcement was made, IHS estimated that 2 gigawatts (GW) worth of solar modules shipped into North America in 2012 would be imported from Chinese manufacturers. This would have represented as much as 60 percent of the market for North American use.

Given the high tariffs proposed by the Commerce Department, many Chinese players will suspend shipments to North America while business plans are modified to account for the tariff. This could represent the temporary removal of up to 1.5GW worth of stopped shipments to the region, accounting for 45 percent of the total market in 2012

“The Commerce Department action will have a major impact on the North American solar market, constraining supplies and driving up prices for modules and systems,” said Mike Sheppard, photovoltaics analyst with IHS. “Even when alternative supply lines are adopted, the penalties are likely to add as much as 12 percent to the cost of solar modules, lowering the average return on investment (ROI) for solar systems in the region by as much as 2.5 percent.”

Solar Flare Up
The Commerce Department preliminarily determined that Chinese producers/exporters sold solar cells in the United States at dumping margins ranging from 31.14 percent to 249.96 percent.

The Commerce Department’s mandatory respondents were Suntech-Power and Trina Solar, and these two companies were subject to unique tariff rates of 31.22 and 31.14 percent, respectively. All other companies singled out in the investigation received an average duty of 31.2 percent. However, Chinese companies not singled out in the investigation will receive an even larger 250 percent duty.

The reasoning the Commerce Department gave for the large tariff on these players is to deter Chinese companies from forming new joint-venture companies with existing firms that are not on the list of penalized entities.

The duties to be imposed are preliminary in nature and will need to be finalized by both the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission (ITC) through final determinations on October 9 and November 23 of this year. However, these duties will be enacted retroactively 90 days prior to the date ofthe preliminary decision in February 2012 if they are imposed.

The Outsourcing Option
Interestingly, the Commerce Department included this statement in its announcement:

“Modules, laminates, and panels produced in a third country from cells produced in the PRC are covered by this investigation; however, modules, laminates, and panels produced in the PRC from cells produced in a third country are not covered by this investigation.”

For the Chinese module suppliers, this represents an opportunity to sidestep the tariffs.

“The Commerce Department statement means that many Chinese cell manufacturers will be incentivized to outsource to third-party companies in other countries in order to get around the duties,” Sheppard said. “A popular option will be to utilize cell specialists operating in Taiwan. This will allow the Chinese players to avoid the high tariffs ranging from 34 to 250 percent. However, such a strategy also will add 10 to 12 percent additional cost for the modules, based on the margins required from the third-party contract manufacturers and from additional logistics charges.”

System-level Impact
The impact of the outsourcing to Taiwan will be somewhat more limited on solar system prices compared to module prices. System pricing behaves in a different manner from module pricing given the additional cost elements involved.

Accounting for a 10 percent increase in total module cost based on the cell outsourcing strategy mentioned above, the cost of installation for a ground solar system rises to $ 2.65 per watt, up from $ 2.56 per watt.

As a result, the ROI for solar installations is expected to only decline by 1.5 percent to 2.5 percent based on the cell outsourcing strategy.

“This reduced ROI means some investors may think twice when valuing other vehicles to put their money,” Sheppard said. “However, most investors will not be deterred.”

Inventory Story
Solar module inventory levels will quickly deplete in North America based on the lower shipments from Chinese players, increasing module prices as a result given that Chinese modules were also the most aggressively priced. These price increases will be passed onto the system level, negatively affecting ROI for projects installed this year.

Learn More >  IHS iSuppli PV Perspectives

Source: Solar Energy Directory

The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit working to eliminate energy poverty through the use of solar power, today announced the successful installation of solar electric systems at 11 health care facilities and one hospital along the southwest coast of Haiti. Through collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Haiti, the systems, with a combined power output of just over 38 kW, will help to improve the quality of medical services provided to more than 170,000 Haitians by powering lights, microscopes, centrifuges, autoclaves, vaccine refrigerators and other lifesaving equipment.

Almost immediately after the systems were made fully operational a host of benefits were being seen, including a birth at night. In addition, one of the clinics is now saving money from no longer having to purchase and transport the fuel previously needed to power a vaccine refrigerator, since it is now connected to the solar system on site.

“A doctor cannot be expected to perform lifesaving surgeries at night without lights or power for medical equipment,” said Bob Freling, SELF’s Executive Director. “Now, through the provision of reliable solar power, doctors can treat patients at night, diagnose patients any time, and provide vaccines to patients in need – all while saving money by decreasing or eliminating the need for diesel fuel.”

The long-term operation of these installations relies on the routine maintenance needed to ensure each system is operating at maximum performance, so SELF hired and trained eight local technicians to maintain the systems at all the sites. They will also train energy managers and medical staffs on how to operate and monitor each clinic’s system on a daily basis.

“The sustainability of our systems is critical to all of our projects,” said Freling. “In a country continuing to rebuild, it is our responsibility to not only invest in and implement effective energy technologies, but we must also invest in its people.”

SELF’s partnership with the IDB and the Government of Haiti began in 2010 with plans to install solar streetlights at two transition camps in Port-au-Prince. In 2011, SELF successfully installed 68 solar powered streetlights in the tent camp of Caradeux, managed by Operasyon Men Nan Men, and 32 solar streetlights in Petionville Club, managed by the J/P Haitian Relief Organization, a nongovernmental organization founded by Sean Penn.

About SELF
The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit whose mission is to implement solar energy solutions to assist those living in energy poverty with economic, education, health and agricultural development. Its Whole Village Development Model takes an innovative approach to designing and implementing integrated solar systems to improve the lives of the 1.5 billion people living in worldwide energy poverty. Since 1990, SELF has completed projects in more than 20 countries, pioneering unique applications of solar power for drip irrigation in Benin, health care in Haiti, telemedicine in the Amazon rainforest, online learning in South Africa, and microenterprise development in Nigeria. Connect with SELF on the web at www.SELF.org; on Twitter @solarfund; and at Facebook.com/solarelectriclightfund.

Source: Solar Energy Directory

In recent years there has been a significant rise in the numbers of solar panel installations across homes in the UK and the focus on environmental well-being means that there has never been a better time to install solar panels. Whether you have a large, country manor or a small townhouse, solar panels can be installed in many areas which consequently help to reduce your electricity bills as well as helping the environment. The relative ease of installing solar panels means that it is definitely something that is worth considering.

Solar panels can be quite expensive to install, so it is worth examining the environmental efficiency of your house before taking the step towards installing solar panels. If your house has characteristics such as double glazing, loft insulation and cavity wall insulation, then solar panels will be more effective at reducing bills because less energy will be wasted; they will be used at their optimum capacity.

Once you have checked these things, you can start to find good deals for solar panel installers. As noted, they can be expensive so shop around for them. There are many price comparison sites that can offer you a quote, so it is recommended that you compare the prices before you buy.

Furthermore, using these sites means that you can compare the service that you will get. You can choose different factors, such as your roof size, which will calculate the potential solar energy that can be gained from the roof and different solar panel operating systems that are available. The solar power installers will then be able to fit your solar panels quickly and efficiently.

If you do not want to pay for the solar panels yourself, there are certain schemes, which allow you to rent out your roof so companies can place their solar panels on it. This is a great idea if you plan on living in your home for a long time, and the solar panels are also usually free in these schemes. However, the solar panels will be on your roof for many years and the buyout fees – if you decide to relocate or if you no longer want them – are expensive.

In the UK, the Government has a scheme where they will buy back any extra energy that you produce through your solar panels. This is an excellent way of making revenue as well as paying back the money that you may have spent purchasing the solar panels. Although there are several steps to take in preparation of purchasing solar panels, they are definitely worth it to make sure you can get the best deal, as well as helping you to earn revenue through your solar panel venture.

This article was written by the team at Ecosphere Renewables. For more info please visit: TheEcosphere.co.uk.

Source: Solar Energy Directory