Solar

U.S. military to be largest rooftop solar customer

The Department of Energy today backed a deal to connect solar electric panels at 160,000 locations on military bases, a move which could double the number of residential solar installations in the U.S.

The DOE said it has provided a conditional commitment to guarantee a $344 million loan for the SolarStrong Project, which will help the military meet its renewable energy targets and bring solar power to a many states which now have little.

SolarCity, which specializes in residential solar installation and financing, has been tapped to install, own, and operate the panels in up to 124 military … Read more

Solyndra bankruptcy was disaster waiting to happen

news analysis Solar manufacturer Solyndra filed for bankruptcy protection today, capping a stunning reversal for the government-backed company in a drama that's raising questions about U.S. industrial policy in green technology.

The Chapter 11 filing follows Solyndra's decision last week to shut down its Fremont, Calif., factory and lay off about 1,100 employees and contractors, saying it could not compete with low-cost manufacturers in other countries.

Solyndra is being held up as a case of the federal government not doing its homework picking companies to back in an effort to create jobs.

But is there some … Read more

First Solar 'Made in EU' stamp comes with discount

First Solar has been granted the right to use "Made in EU" or "Made in Europe" on its thin-film solar panels made in Germany, the company announced Thursday.

The credential was granted based on the Conto Energia 4 (CE4) feed-in tariff program established by the Italian government as a means of getting companies to source materials and commit to manufacturing more goods from within Europe.

Of course, that does not mean all panels made by the Arizona-based company now have European-made status. The credential only applies to the company's Frankfurt, Germany facility. That plant, which … Read more

Solar-powered hydrogen refueling station planned for Michigan

Michigan's Mass Transportation Authority isn't waiting around for the hydrogen highway to come to its neck of the woods. The transit organization is building an alternative fuel testing ground for its planned fleet of propane and hydrogen-electric buses. When it's completed, the entire facility will be powered by an on-site solar farm, including the hydrogen generators.

Mass Transportation Authority canceled its orders for electric buses that achieved only a 40-mile range, and instead will be purchasing hydrogen-electric buses that have a 300-mile range to meet its clean-energy needs, according to an article in the Flint Journal.

Working … Read more

Australia to get its first utility-scale solar plant

First Solar, GE Energy Financial Services, and Verve Energy announced today a partnership to build Australia's first utility-scale solar plant.

At 10 megawatts, Greenough River Solar Farm will be the largest operating solar plant in the country, and the solar energy it generates will be put to a very specific use.

All of its energy will go toward supporting a seawater desalination plant in Western Australia currently under expansion.

The Southern Seawater Desalination Plant in Binningup, Australia, which is run by the WA Water Corporation, has signed a 15-year contract to purchase all of the solar energy generated from … Read more

Solyndra to file for bankruptcy; suspends operations

American solar-system manufacturer Solyndra announced today that it would suspend operations immediately and file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

More than 1,000 employees have been laid off, effective immediately.

The company offered "global economic and solar industry market conditions" as the reason. In March 2009, the company received a $535 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Treasury's Federal Financing Bank. The money was used to expand manufacturing capacity in Fremont, Calif.

Options for the company's bankruptcy include the licensing of its CIGS technology and manufacturing expertise and an outright sale of its business.

The … Read more

Study: U.S. solar industry a net exporter

With more and more solar panels being manufactured in Asia, the U.S. is missing the boat on solar, right? Wrong, according to a study published today.

The Solar Energy Industry Association commissioned a report done by GTM Research, which analyzes where money is spent in the solar industry, from raw materials to final installation.

Its two main conclusions are that U.S.-based companies in the solar supply chain earn more revenue than Chinese manufacturers, which now dominate production of solar panels. The other is that for every dollar spent to install solar panels in the U.S., about … Read more

Solar shakeout will bring more failures, few deals

A brutal 2011 has left the solar industry dazed, damaged, and on the cusp of a major shakeout of weaker players that are more likely to shut down than be snapped up by their stronger rivals.

Solar subsidy cuts in top markets Italy and Germany prompted a 20 percent drop in the price of solar panels this year, bringing the fast-growing solar industry to a critical tipping point. Even companies that had been stock market heroes find themselves as the walking wounded, struggling to cut costs in a market awash with solar panels.

In the long run those price declines … Read more

Intel solar spinoff SpectraWatt files for bankruptcy

Solar-manufacturing hopeful SpectraWatt has filed for bankruptcy protection, blaming operational problems and difficult market conditions. It's the second U.S.-based solar company to file for bankruptcy this month.

SpectraWatt was spun out of chip giant Intel in 2008 with a plan to improve manufacturing of silicon solar cells. But after raising over $90 million in private investment and receiving state aid in New York, it filed on Monday for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

In court documents, it said that it has been trying to sell its assets, including an idled manufacturing facility in New York, but has not … Read more