http://www.pvgeneration.comNews from CVRC Ltd(c)CVRC Ltd 20105French solar technology group Solaire Direct is one of many new entrants into the power industry awaiting the outcome of the Department of Energy's integrated resource plan in the coming few months. Eskom renewable power programme manager Adele Greyling said the state utility was ring-fencing an independent system operator to facilitate the signing of new power purchase agreements, including renewable projects. Hammond, however, believes that the feed-in tariff for large-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar power proposed by the National Energy Regulator (R3.94 per kilowatt hour) was too high for rapid development of the sector. "We'd like to see the R3.94 that has been proposed reduced significantly," he said. "Given the dramatic reduction in the cost for solar PV in the last two years that number is too high." He said government had a limit on what it would be prepared to pay for PV power, and the higher the tariff the lower the number of available megawatts would be. - www.timeslive.co.zahttp://www.pvgeneration.com/default.aspx?atk=564Sun, 25 Jul 2010 www.timeslive.co.zapvgen_atk564An experimental solar-powered aircraft launched on Wednesday has landed safely in Switzerland after successfully flying through the night. The feat is a step toward the makers' aim of circling the globe using the power of the Sun to fuel the plane. The aircraft used super-efficient solar cells and batteries to stay in the air after the Sun's rays had faded. The plane touched down at an airfield about 30 miles (50 km) from the Swiss capital Bern at 0900 hrs (0700 GMT). The four-engine aircraft was steered by Andre Borschberg, a former fighter jet pilot from Switzerland. The plane has 12,000 solar cells arranged on its wingspan which stored enough energy to power the plane for the flight. - BBChttp://www.pvgeneration.com/default.aspx?atk=563Thu, 08 Jul 2010 BBCpvgen_atk563Pilot Andre Borschberg has announced he is postponing an attempt to make aviation history because of a technical problem. He had planned to take off from a Swiss airfield in a solar-powered plane and fly through the night. The plane would need to generate enough energy through the day to sustain its battery-driven engines at night. One of the aeroplane's inventors, Bertrand Piccard, said the pilot would have to wait for a part from the US. 'Solar future' The HB-SIA aeroplane, which has 12,000 solar cells, is the latest step in the Solar Impulse project, which Mr Borschberg leads with his business partner and fellow adventurer, Dr Piccard. It was to have taken off from Payerne in the west of Switzerland in an attempt to fly for 24 hours. Robotic craft have achieved this feat before now, but never a manned one. - news.bbc.co.ukhttp://www.pvgeneration.com/default.aspx?atk=562Thu, 01 Jul 2010 news.bbc.co.ukpvgen_atk562Study reckons 40 per cent of European roof space is technically suitable for solar installations Around 40 per cent of the EU's required electricity could be generated using building-mounted solar panels by 2020, according to new figures from the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). The study calculated that 40 per cent of all building roofs and 15 per cent of all facades are technically suitable for photovoltaic (PV) installations, providing an area of over 22,000 square kilometres. It added that solar panels installed on these buildings alone could generate about 1,400TWh of electricity each year. - www.businessgreen.comhttp://www.pvgeneration.com/default.aspx?atk=561Wed, 23 Jun 2010 www.businessgreen.compvgen_atk561Britain''s solar PV market could see enormous growth this year, as more people invest in photovoltaic solar panels to take advantage of the government''s Feed-in Tariff (FiT), research has shown. According to a new analysis by accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, the FiT is expected to follow similar successful schemes across Europe by prompting a potential five fold increase in solar PV installations in 2010. Daniel Guttmann, renewables director with the company, suggested that the anticipated expansion could turn today''s ''cottage industry'' into a much more ''professionally organised'' sector. He said: ''The PV market will become more sophisticated with more complex products and a greater focus on accountability for system performance.'' Last week, a local, family-run solar PV firm told the Swindon Advertiser that enquiries into its photovoltaic solar panels had trebled since the start of the FiT scheme. - SIG Sustainable Solutionshttp://www.pvgeneration.com/default.aspx?atk=559Mon, 07 Jun 2010 SIG Sustainable Solutionspvgen_atk559SolarEdge Technologies introduces its latest generation of innovative solutions for Distributed Solar Power Harvesting at Intersolar Europe, the world’s largest exhibition for the solar industry. SolarEdge will present the first commercially available modules with embedded power optimization, add-on Power Optimizers for 350W modules and highly efficient 8kW, 12kW and 15kW three-phase-inverters, that expand the current range of PowerBoxes and inverters. Additionally, an automatic solution for electrocution prevention and fire safety, as well as a full package of monitoring & design software tools will be introduced at Intersolar Europe. - www.earthtimes.orghttp://www.pvgeneration.com/default.aspx?atk=557Mon, 24 May 2010 www.earthtimes.orgpvgen_atk557Samsung announced its plans for world domination Tuesday. The South Korean conglomerate said it would invest approximately $20.6 billion and boost employment by around 45,000 as part of its expansion into solar, energy efficiency, light-emitting diodes and other green markets. Samsung has already said it wants to be number one in solar by 2015. In January, Samsung said it would invest around $6.6 billion into solar and wind projects into Ontario. If you work at a green company, this is probably really scary news. Why? I'll give you three reasons. First: while many conglomerates often become saddled by bureaucratic inertia, internal politics and conservative product planning, Samsung has shown it can escape that trap. - www.greentechmedia.comhttp://www.pvgeneration.com/default.aspx?atk=556Wed, 12 May 2010 www.greentechmedia.compvgen_atk556The world’s photovoltaic industry is heading for a shake-out with big Chinese and US manufacturers of solar modules competing for dominance in Europe as smaller companies suffer from a collapse of prices and lower subsidies. Executives speaking at the Italian PV Summit and trade fair in Verona last week were heartened by higher forecasts of demand for solar power made by the Paris-based International Energy Agency but they also warned of the dangers of a bubble forming in fast-growing Italy following the bursting of the Spanish market last year. “We will see more consolidation of players, leaving a handful of very large manufacturers,” said David Hogg, head of European operations for China’s Suntech Power which plans to increase output to 1,250MW in 2010 from 700MW last year and is developing a new generation of high-efficiency Pluto panels. “As the industry matures only those with a low cost base will be left,” he said, stressing the importance of economies of scale. - www.ft.comhttp://www.pvgeneration.com/default.aspx?atk=553Sun, 09 May 2010 www.ft.compvgen_atk553Logos and Websites are based in Stockport. We specialise in the creation of professional and affordable logos and websites. We believe it's essential that your organisation can source a website or a logo which will reflect the professional nature of the services or products you provide. Our logo and website designers will match your level of professionalism and produce a quality website and logo that you will be happy to pay for knowing it was produced at a fair price. We have worked with many businesses across a range of disciplines and will understand your requirements. We are happy to design for small and large businesses, individuals and charities. We will make a lasting impression. - Logos and Websiteshttp://www.pvgeneration.com/default.aspx?atk=554Sun, 09 May 2010 Logos and Websitespvgen_atk554But this is the level of return the Government claims you could receive by investing in a solar panel system for your home. If you think installing solar panels is only for those committed to ecological issues, a new government scheme designed to increase uptake of renewable energy may make you think again. The Department for Energy and Climate Change's (DECC) Clean Energy Cashback Scheme is offering big financial incentives to anyone installing solar panels in a bid to make doing so stack up as an investment to even committed climate-sceptics. The cashback scheme, also known as the Feed-in tariff, has been going since April. Grants for solar panels have been abolished and replaced with a system where people who install them are rewarded for every unit of energy generated by their system. Energy companies are also required by law to buy back any excess they generate. - www.telegraph.co.ukhttp://www.pvgeneration.com/default.aspx?atk=552Fri, 07 May 2010 www.telegraph.co.ukpvgen_atk552Welcome to PV Generation. PV Generation has a long history in the Solar/PV industry originating from their involvement with Sharp Electronics UK. PVG now offer a full range of Solar products. We also provide a full install service using out BPEC Qualified fitters. We supply the award winning Sharp range which can not be matched on performance. Sharp's solar modules offer industry-leading performance and proprietary design. They boast a high conversion efficiency - the percentage of sunlight that is converted into energy for your use - to maximize your savings. Sharp's modules are ideal for multi-faceted roofs with many angles. Sharp offers 3 categories of solar module: Monocrystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Modules Polycrystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Modules Thin-film Photovoltaic Modules Inverters Batteries Meters - Contact Ushttp://www.pvgeneration.com/default.aspx?atk=514Fri, 07 May 2010 Contact Uspvgen_atk514When Dr. Alan Heeger and his colleagues began experimenting with newly-found semiconducting polymers in the 1970s, they just wanted to understand the basic physics of how electrons were set free in the materials. But they ended up making a discovery that has helped advance a new generation of solar plastics and inks. By oxidizing polyacetylene, a long-chain molecule which acts like a pigment, the researchers found the polymer to have extraordinarily high conductive properties. “We realized it in a classic 'ah ha moment,'” says Heeger. “But then over and over again, we saw additional properties that we had not foreseen.” Eventually, Heeger and his colleagues, Alan MacDiarmind and Hideki Shirakawa, figured out that the material was not just a novelty. It had the potential to change the way we manufacture electronic devices, transistors, diodes and solar cells. - www.renewableenergyworld.comhttp://www.pvgeneration.com/default.aspx?atk=551Mon, 03 May 2010 www.renewableenergyworld.compvgen_atk551