December 28th, 2011
Solarbuzz and other major news sources reported that Panasonic plans a Malaysia-based company called Panasonic Energy Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., that will operate a solar manufacturing facility. The facility will produce wafers to cells and modules, with an annual production capacity of 300 MW. The facility will be operational in December 2012. According to the article, Panasonic expects a high demand for the solar cell market, particularly in residential. Panasonic says it plans to sell its solar modules both individually and as part of a system of storage batteries.
Posted in Solar International, Solar News | Comment »
December 21st, 2011
As of November 1, the Maryland Energy Administration’s grant program has changed. While all of the details can be found on the MEA website, we’ll review some of the highlights. Money will be shifted from other programs to provide an additional $2.5 million to the residential Clean Energy Grant Program (CEGP), started in 2005. The PV grant structure will change from a graduated $500/kW to a flat $1,000 per PV system per household. The geothermal heat pump grant will be capped at $1,000. Solar water heaters will remain the same with a grant for 20 percent of the cost, capped at $500.
The MEA says grants will be allocated on a first come/first served basis across technologies. Homeowners are limited to applying for one grant per technology per fiscal year. Leasing companies may apply for one grant per technology per address per fiscal year. The MEA says the changes are a result of money being used too quickly, and the desire to avoid a gap in providing grants until the next fiscal year.
Posted in Solar Incentives and Financing | Comment »
December 14th, 2011
If you ever got the idea that solar energy is only for the affluent consumer, a new study of California’s home solar market debunks the myth. According to a report in PV Solar News, two-thirds of California’s residential solar installations over the past three years have been in areas of median household incomes – less than $85,000 a year. In contrast, only two-three percent of homes in California’s highest income zip codes have solar installations.
In Maryland, the solar revolution is also heating up. The Maryland Energy Administration’s Residential Clean Energy Grant Program (CEGP), started in 2005, has paid out over $16,500,000 in grants to homeowners that have helped install more than 2,000 PV systems, 1,100 solar water heating systems, 1,500 geothermal heat pump systems, 85 small wind systems, according to the MEA website. Grant programs have helped bring on a wide variety of demographics, making solar energy’s benefits available to and affordable for more than just the high-income resident.
Posted in Solar News, Solar Trends | Comment »
December 7th, 2011
eSolar Energy News recently reported that BioSolar, Inc. was planning to present BioBacksheet integrated PV panels at the GovGreen Conference. BioBacksheet is a technology that produces “bio-based materials from renewable plant sources, that reduce the cost of PV solar modules,” the publication said. According to the manufacturer, the technology will remain intact for a much longer period than traditional multi-layer laminated backsheets after prolonged exposure to UV radiation. Traditional backsheet adhesives can degrade between the layers, disturbing the moisture seal. This can result in failed panels that need replaced.
The BioBacksheet technology has shown reliability for up to 10 years of solar exposure. This can be a big advantage for PV panel companies, because the warranty replacements would be fewer and the panels more reliable. In addition, the technology adds to the green commitment of solar energy, making it a cost-effective alternative.
Posted in Solar News | Comment »
November 29th, 2011
The Solar Foundation recently said the solar industry added 6,735 jobs in the first eight months of the year, and the industry employs more than 100,000 people. But employers have more openings available – just no qualified workers to fill them.
That’s right. If you have the right qualifications, a job in the solar industry may just be waiting for you. The Foundation said both solar hot water and solar PV companies have openings for nearly 50 percent more installers, but these companies are having trouble finding the right workers.
What credentials get you in to the industry? Of course, it depends on the job, but certifications like NABCEP or UL are advantageous. Plumbers, electricians and engineers are all needed. Having been through an apprentice program is important for installer jobs. On-the-job experience is best. Employers want you to be able hit the ground running with very little training. Certifications offered by non-profit and for-profit accredited training organizations can help, as well as community college courses.
Posted in Solar News | Comment »
November 25th, 2011
Last week we noted Germany’s success in silicon solar PV panels. This week, we’ll share some recent analysts’ numbers on the worldwide market.
Solar Industry Magazine reported that solar PV capacity was added in more than 100 countries in 2010, according to a report from Pike Research. The worldwide solar energy market is expected to increase to $154 billion by 2015, from today’s $66 billion, a compound annual growth rate of 18 percent. Key regions contributing to this growth will be Germany, Italy, France, Czech Republic, the U.S.A. and Canada. Europe will be the largest market for solar PV distribution, but China and India will make gains. China will, of course, gain market share as manufacturing costs keep declining with crystalline silicon and thin-film technologies. The market will continue to be all about cost, and while that’s good news for energy consumers, it will be a hardship for solar panel manufacturers.
Posted in Uncategorized | Comment »
November 15th, 2011
A recent article in Grist on-line by Kees Van der Leun referenced photovoltaics as the “cheapest way to generate electricity.”
Van der Leun, COO of Ecofys, a consulting company specializing in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate change, noted a long-ago visit to a German solar cell factory, where he received a stack of 100 silicon solar cells. The stack was only one inch high and could produce 3.8 watts of power in full sun. It would take only 1,400 cells, with under 30 pounds of silicon, to supply the average European family’s annual electricity needs. The cost would be just $700 – without all the framework and accessories that accompany the silicon solar cells. Van der Leun went on to note how the PV capacity in Germany has grown, and investors are seeing returns.
Van der Leun says, “The funny thing is: Germany is not very sunny!” So he concludes that a sunnier region like the southwestern United States could produce twice as much solar electricity in kWh, at half the cost. Even the southeastern US, like Maryland and Delaware, could benefit from this theory of PV – because, like Germany, it’s not very sunny! For full details, read Van der Leun’s article about PV as the cheapest energy source.
Posted in Renewable Energy, Solar International, Solar News | Comment »
November 9th, 2011
Gloom and rain have been the norm in our area this Fall. If you’ve invested in solar panels, you’re feeling the pain about now. If you are fully solar and connected to the utility grid, you’re getting credit for the electricity you use. If you’ve only begun to take steps toward solar, like a solar hot water heater, you’re not seeing a drop in utility bills as promised, nor are you having much luck with hot water washing.
Here are a few survival tips as you look toward the sky in search of the sun:
- Keep an eye on the weather forecast and plan your hot water laundry and dish washing accordingly – when there will be sun. Do cold water wash loads when skies are cloudy.
- Give your tank time to heat up once the sun does come out. Do your hot loads in the early afternoon, not first thing in the morning, because it’s likely your system will revert to electric for a few hours.
- Set your hot water heater to 120 degrees to avoid burns and conserve heat.
- Be patient – over time, you will see decreased utility bills and a return on your solar investment. After all, the sun has to come out sometime!
Posted in Solar Tips | Comment »
October 31st, 2011
While going green with clean energy is a great way to preserve the environment, going green can also serve others. We at Eclipse Solar are proud to be involved in a program with NAP Green that does both. It allows your monthly electric use to support power from renewable resources, and it helps you to support your favorite charities.
By signing up for NAP Green, you still receive your power by your local utility via existing power lines. The only difference is a new electric rate on the supply portion of your bill. You’ll be purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), which helps build a market for renewable electricity.
When you use at least 250 kilowatt-hours of energy per month, NAP will donate $1 to a charity of your choice as part of its Mission to Millions program. The more people who sign up, the more NAP can give to charities. There is no cost to switching to cleaner, renewable energy and it helps both the environment and our neighbors.
As the clean energy news keeps coming, we’ll keep supporting programs that reach for common goals – serving the environment and each other. Click here to learn more about NAP Green.
Posted in Renewable Energy, Solar Products | Comment »
October 25th, 2011
Recently, researchers from Northwestern University announced a new carbon-based solar cell material that offers an alternative to current technology. A transparent conductor made of carbon nanotubes, it will provide a cost-efficient and flexible option that can meet future solar cell demands. Researchers say it is literally mechanically flexible, unlike the brittle indium tin oxide currently used in transparent conductor applications.
These two features make it very promising. If it’s more cost-effective, it will address the issues we’re already having with panel prices. Perhaps it will allow America to compete in panel production with countries like China, where the government subsidizes the industry and panels are priced 25 percent or more below American-made panels. Carbon for the new technology would be readily available, unlike the limited resource indium tin oxide.
Researchers say the carbon nanotube’s mechanical flexibility could allow solar cells to be integrated into fabrics and clothing, making solar energy portable and part of every day life on the go. Isn’t that ultimately where we want to be?
For more details on the solar cell material, go to the October 2011 issue of Advanced Energy Materials.
Posted in Solar Innovations, Solar News, Solar Products, Solar Trends | Comment »
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