Solar News
July 29, 2009
Site Growth
In February it was our privilege to announce the arrival of TestaSolarJobs.com, the premier recruitment hub for the solar industry. The response has been tremendous:
- a 14x growth in the number of registered users since launch
- 600% leap in unique visitors since March
- over 135 resumes from solar industry professionals posted in April alone
- dozens of job postings from employers
Visit www.TestaSolarJobs.com today to see why we're growing so quickly! Qualified jobseekers are viewing our Hot Jobs daily -- post your next opening to connect quickly with top talent motivated to make an impact on the Solar and Semiconductor industries.
Founded by Pete Testa, one of the nation's leading recruiters with 24 years of experience in technology industries, the core mission of TestaSolarJobs is to provide employers and jobseekers with an intuitive and highly responsive online career resource center.
We believe that by powering a fast and efficient recruiting experience, TestaSolarJobs can help the solar industry to grow, which helps America to create jobs and paves the way for greater energy independence, now and into the future.
Come join us at www.TestaSolarJobs.com and be a part of one of America's fastest-growing industries.
Thanks!
Pete Testa
pete@testasolarjobs.com
June 4, 2009
Solar PV Landscape Adjusts for Bounce-Back
Although some have predicted exploding growth for thin-film photovoltaic technologies, the sector's expansion is likely to be tempered by dropping polysilicon prices, according to a new report from IC Insights, which takes its perspective from the semiconductor industry.
Source: semiconductor.com | Semiconductor International, 6/4/2009
May 28, 2009
SOLAR PV forecast says industry will bounce back with adjusted priorities
Scottsdale, Arizona---May 28, 2009---IC Insights announced today the release of a new report, its first to examine and analyze the solar photovoltaic industry from the perspective of semiconductor industry participants. Solar Energy: Growth Opportunities for the Semiconductor Industry starts with the market for high-purity silicon shared with the chip industry, a market where the rapidly changing balance between supply and demand is contributing to a rethinking of priorities in the solar PV sector.
Source: edn.com | Electronics Design, Stategy, News, 5/28/2009
May 7, 2009
PV Materials to See Exploding Growth
The $2.3B materials market for crystalline silicon and thin-film photovoltaic module manufacture is expected to reach ~$15B by 2015, according to a new report from Linx Consulting...
Source: semiconductor.com | Semiconductor International, 5/7/2009
May 1, 2009
Energy Outlook report shows positive impact on jobs
The Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration has released its updated 2009 Energy Outlook Report to assess the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, passed by Congress in January, on the U.S. energy outlook ...
Source: thespectrum.com | The Spectrum, 5/1/2009
March 16, 2009
Photovoltaic market to see 17% growth rate, Gartner reports
"Development of clean energy technology is likely to figure prominently in the future growth of the major industrialized economies, and PV solar is well positioned to capitalize on this trend," Gartner analysts James Hines and Alfonso Velosa report.
By Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News -- Electronic News, 3/16/2009
February 23, 2009
TESTASOLARJOBS.COM LAUNCHES TO PROVIDE FAST, EFFICIENT ONLINE CAREER RESOURCE TO THE SOLAR INDUSTRY
Top Technology Recruiter Pete Testa Debuts Intuitive, Responsive Website for Jobseekers, Employers; Services Pave the Way for Greater Energy Independence
SAN FRANCISCO -- February 23, 2009: America’s shift towards greater energy independence has a powerful new online career resource in TestaSolarJobs. Founded by Pete Testa, recognized as one of the top high-tech recruiters in the nation, TestaSolarJobs provides the solar industry with a fast and efficient Website designed to respond quickly to the needs of jobseekers and employers in this vital sector.
Testa founded TestaSolarJobs after his 24 years of experience of recruiting for semiconductor and other high-technology industries, successfully matching thousands of jobseekers and employers along the way.
“TestaSolarJobs was created to help the alternative energy industry at this critical stage of its growth, which in turn helps America and the world’s environment,” Testa says. “Nearly 25 years of nonstop recruiting have allowed me to design a site that is easy to use and responsive – both to the needs of top job candidates, and the companies that want to connect with them.”
The core mission of TestaSolarJobs is to power a fast and efficient recruiting experience that keeps jobseekers and employers constantly informed on developments. Using the tools of TestaSolarJobs, job candidates can upload their resumes, view job postings, and:
- Target specific companies and receive automatic email notifications when they post openings
- Receive an email alert when their resume has been viewed
- Access solar IndustryInsider career search tips and techniques
- Unlock your networking capability with a fast growing industry
Meanwhile, employers using TestaSolarJobs can:
- Post Job Openings
- Search and sort candidates
- Search a source of candidates specific to their field of interest.
“With TestaSolarJobs now online jobseekers have a fast track to finding the best careers in the solar industry,” Pete Testa concludes, “Meanwhile, employers have a deep resource for finding the best candidates possible and adding to the value of their organization. This is great news for the job market, as well as America’s drive for increased energy independence.”
January 15, 2009
ASES Green Collar Jobs report forecasts 37 million jobs from renewable energy and energy efficiency in U.S. by 2030
The renewable energy and energy efficiency (RE&EE) industries represented more than 9 million jobs and $1,045 billion in U.S. revenue in 2007, according to a new report offering the most detailed analysis yet of the green economy. The renewable energy industry grew three times as fast as the U.S. economy, with the solar thermal, photovoltaic, biodiesel, and ethanol sectors leading the way, each with 25%+ annual revenue growth.
The new ASES Green Collar Jobs report from the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) based in Boulder, and Management Information Services, Inc (MISI), an internationally recognized economic research firm based in Washington D.C., provides a sector-by-sector analysis of where the opportunities are in the rapidly changing renewable energy and energy efficiency industries.
“There’s a new sense of optimism in the green economy,” said Brad Collins, ASES’ Executive Director. “But while the U.S. could see million of new jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency, this will only happen with the necessary leadership, research, development, and public policy at the federal and state levels.”
Key steps include a national renewable portfolio standard, long-term extension of the production tax credit, effective net metering policies, and improved access to electric transmission infrastructure.
According to the advanced scenario in the report, which represents the upper limit of what is technologically and economically feasible, RE&EE would generate about 37 million jobs and $4,294 billion in annual revenue by 2030. It’s one of three forecast scenarios highlighted in this report. Under the base case (business as usual) scenario, which assumes no major change in policy or initiatives, the green job forecast is for more than 16 million jobs and $1,966 billion in revenue in the U.S. by 2030 – less than half the jobs and revenue than the advanced scenario. The third scenario assumes moderate policy improvements at the federal and state level and forecasts 19.5 million jobs and $2,248 billion in revenue by 2030.
Key conclusions from this report include:
- Renewable energy and energy efficiency currently provide more than 9 million jobs and $1,045 billion in revenue in the U.S. (2007). The previous year (2006) renewable energy and energy efficiency represented 8.5 million jobs and $972 billion in revenue.
- 95% of the jobs are in private industry.
- As many as 37 million jobs can be generated by the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries in the U.S. by 2030 – more than 17% of all anticipated U.S. employment.
- Hottest sectors include solar thermal, solar photovoltaics, biofuels, and fuel cells (in terms of revenue growth).
- Hot job areas include electricians, mechanical engineers, welders, metal workers, construction managers, accountants, analysts, environmental scientists, and chemists. The vast majority of jobs created by the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries are in the same types of roles seen in other industries (accountants, factory workers, IT professionals, etc).
- Renewable energy and energy efficiency can create millions of well-paying jobs, many of which are not subject to foreign outsourcing. These jobs are in two categories that every state is eager to attract – college-educated professional workers (many with advanced degrees), and highly skilled technical workers.
- The renewable energy industry grew more than three times as fast as the U.S. economy in 2007 (not including hydropower). Renewable energy is also growing more rapidly than the energy efficiency industry, but the energy efficiency industry is currently much larger than the renewable energy industry.
Key conclusions from Colorado case study:
- Renewable energy and energy efficiency industries are already significant economic drivers in Colorado and are well positioned for future growth. In 2007 RE/EE generated $10.3 billion in sales and provided over 91,000 jobs in Colorado, accounting for more than 4% of the gross state product. This could grow to as much as $61.5 billion and 613,000 jobs by 2030 with continued leadership, research, development, and policy efforts.
- Despite fierce competition from other regions of the U.S., Colorado is a disproportionately large player in the renewable energy industry. Colorado’s gross state product accounts for only about 1.7% of the U.S. GDP, but in 2007 Colorado had about 6% of the U.S. wind market, nearly six percent of the photovoltaics market, and about 5% of the biofuels market.
- Hottest sectors include: wind, solar thermal, solar photovoltaics, fuel cells, biofuel, R&D (federal government), recycling, energy efficient windows/doors, green building
- The vast majority of jobs created by RE&EE are in roles similar to roles that are in other industries. Hot job areas include: electricians, truck drivers, welders, machinists, roofers, accountants, cashiers, software engineers, civil engineers, energy efficient construction, energy audit specialists.
- While renewable energy sectors are growing more rapidly than the energy efficiency industry, the energy efficiency industry is much larger and will see the greatest number of new jobs added.
- Current RE/EE jobs are located throughout the state, in urban centers, suburbs, small towns, and rural areas. Most of the firms are relatively small, though they range in size significantly. These firms employ workers at all skill levels, from basic and rudimentary to the very highly skilled technical and professional.
- RE&EE generates about 70% more jobs than the oil and gas sector. RE&EE is an effective job creation mechanism, generating more than 2.5 times as many jobs per revenue as the oil and gas sector.
But while there is tremendous opportunity, there is also a real sense of urgency. Every year’s delay by policy-makers (2009, 2010) has a highly disproportionate and negative impact on long range growth. The longer that policy-makers delay in implementing ambitious renewable energy and energy efficiency programs, the more difficult it will be to achieve the report’s goals by 2030.
Unless quick action is taken, the U.S. risks losing millions of green jobs to other nations that offer a more serious and sustained commitment to growing its green economy. Consider the impressive results of Germany as an instructive example.
Germany’s population is about one-quarter the size of the U.S., but Germany has more renewable energy jobs and generates new jobs faster the U.S. Germany has 5x the wind sector jobs and 4x the photovoltaic solar jobs as the U.S. Germany produces half the wind rotors in the world, one-third the solar panels in the world, and leads the world in biodiesel production.
The U.S. is in a global marketplace. If we fail to invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency, the U.S. runs the risk of losing additional ground in these industries to Germany and other nations. If we refuse to address policy and regulatory barriers to the sustained development of the new energy economy, other countries will lead and reap the economic and environmental benefits. For the U.S. to be competitive in a carbon-constrained world, the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries must be a critical economic driver.
January 5, 2009
WorldWater & Solar Technologies, Solar Power Partners Complete Solar Installation at Valley Center Municipal Water District
1.1 MW Project Uses Solar Panels from Sharp
JAN. 5, 2009 – WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp. (OTC BB: WWAT.OB), developer and marketer of proprietary high-horsepower solar systems, today announced that it has completed installation of a 1.1 MW solar power system for the Valley Center Municipal Water District (VCMWD) of Valley Center, California. The system, which was financed and will be owned, operated, and maintained by Solar Power Partners, Inc. (SPP) of Mill Valley, California, will provide 2.1 million kWh per year of electricity for the district, offsetting up to 20% of the electricity required by their largest pumping station.
The project was developed using a solar Power Purchase Agreement, which required no cash outlay from VCMWD, who will purchase the generated power from SPP for the twenty-five year life of the agreement. Sharp supplied the solar panels for the project.
“I am pleased to announce the successful completion of our flat-plate solar installation at Valley Center, on schedule and to the client’s specifications,” said Frank Smith, CEO, WorldWater and Solar Technologies. “This is another example of our ability to deliver ‘best in class’ solar technology to large commercial clients, as we did for Denver International Airport and Fresno Yosemite International Airport. The experience gained from these installations will serve us well as we look to bring our ENTECH CPV and CPVT modules to the market this year.”
Sharp solar modules were deployed in the Fresno and Denver International Airport solar projects as well.
“Solar Power Partners is proud to partner with Worldwater and Valley Center on this exciting solar solution. This facility is a wonderful example of what can be accomplished when water districts adopt solar and support renewable energy,” said Alexander v. Welczeck, President and CEO of Solar Power Partners.
“After almost three years of negotiating, planning, and implementation, it is very rewarding to finally see this “double green” project come to life,” says Gary Arant, General Manager, Valley Center Municipal Water District. “This will provide long-term financial benefits for our agency and community, as well as a reduced carbon production environment - thus double green.”
“Sharp is very pleased to be helping Valley Center Municipal Water District realize its goal of generating clean, reliable electricity – while achieving sustainability,” said Ron Kenedi, vice president of Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group.
January 5, 2009
Acciona Puts 46-MW PV Project in Service
Acciona Energy has put its 46-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Amareleja, Portugal into service. The Amareleja plant covers a total area of 250 hectares and has 2,520 of the company's Buskil trackers, each with a surface of 142 square-meters.
Each tracker includes more than 100 polycrystalline silicon modules, giving each system a capacity of between 170 and 180 watts. The trackers support a total of 262,080 PV modules and follow the sun with an azimuthal rotation movement of 240 degrees, and a fixed inclination of 45 degrees.
The first 3 MW of the project were installed at the end of 2007 and were connected provisionally in March 2008. This year has seen the installation of the remainder of the plant’s solar field and the construction of the evacuation line and last week the plant was finally connected to the grid. The plant was built in thirteen months.
Acciona said that the Amareleja PV plant will help to achieve the objectives laid out in the Portuguese government’s E4 Energy Efficiency and Endogenous Energies policy and to meet Portugal’s greenhouse gases reduction commitments. In the case of PV power, the aim is to install 150 MW, of which Amareleja will account for 30%.
January 5, 2009
Sono-Tek Launches New Selective Fluxing System for PV Manufacturing
Sono-Tek Corporation announced that the SelectaFlux SC ultrasonic selective fluxing system designed for fluxing solder bus lines in Silicon solar cell manufacturing has been released. Able to be retrofitted into all Tabber Stringer machines, the SelectaFlux SC system provides ultrasonically atomized flux lines for optimal solder connections, ensuring maximum solar cell efficiency and durability of solder joints.
The SelectaFlux SC features reduced overspray, resulting in a flux line with close to no satellite particles or excess flux beyond the solder bus, the company said. The ultrasonic nozzle has a self-cleaning design, it requires cleaning only 1-2 times per month, and compatibility with all fluxes.
Unlike pressure spraying or jetting technologies commonly used for solar cell fluxing, ultrasonic spray fluxing delivers a precise, thin layer of flux with controlled velocity only to precisely targeted areas. SelectaFlux can be configured with PLC control systems as well. Sono-Tek’s Alternative Energy division is expanding this product offering worldwide as solar cell technologies become more and more viable to countries around the globe, the company said.
December 29, 2008
Milpitas Schools, Chevron & BOA Complete 3.4-MW Solar Project
Milpitas Unified School District, Chevron Energy Solutions and Bank of America announced the completion of a 14-site, district-wide solar and energy efficiency project designed to supply 75 percent of the district's total annual electricity needs through solar energy.
The 3.4-megawatt (MW) solar parking canopies and shade structures supply 100 percent of the district's power during the summer months when California's peak-demand electricity needs are greatest. The program is designed to reduce the district's energy costs by more than 22 percent and save the district's general fund US $12 million over the life of the solar project, while providing budget predictability through known energy costs.
"We are proud to be generating renewable, ultraclean power at our district's facilities while achieving cost savings for our general fund," said Dr. Karl Black, superintendent of Milpitas Unified School District. "This project wouldn't have been possible without the support we received from David Thorman, state architect of California, and his team and our collaboration with Chevron Energy Solutions and Bank of America."
December 23, 2008
US $80B in Contracts Awarded by DOE
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on December 18, 2008, the award of new Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) to sixteen Energy Service Companies (ESCOs). These contracts could result in up to US $80 billion in energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation projects at federally-owned buildings and facilities.
The federal government is the largest single user of energy in the United States and DOE said that these awards demonstrate a commitment to sound government stewardship by recognizing efforts to save energy, reduce federal energy costs, cut greenhouse gas emissions, bring more cutting-edge technologies to use, strengthen national security and create a stronger economy.
“This set of awards will ensure that federal agencies have access to powerful tools for alternative financing at a scale that is needed to meet our challenge of reducing energy intensity, increasing the use of renewable energy, and decreasing water consumption.” U.S. DOE Secretary Samuel Bodman said.
The new contracts were awarded to the following Energy Service Companies (ESCOs):
* Ameresco Inc.
* Chevron Energy Solutions
* Clark Realty Builders
* Consolidated Edison Solutions Inc.
* Constellation Energy Projects & Services Group Inc.
* FPL Energy Service Inc.
* Honeywell Internationa, Inc.
* Johnson Controls Government Systems LLC
* Lockheed Martin Services Inc.
* McKinstry Essention Inc.
* NORESCO LLC
* Pepco Energy Services
* Siemens Government Services Inc.
* TAC Energy Solutions
* The Benham Companies LLC
* Trane U.S. Inc.
Tuesday 23 December 2008
iSuppli Foresees Price Drop For Solar Panels
Bringing an end to eight consecutive years of growth, global revenue for PV panels is expected to plunge by nearly 20% in 2009 as a massive oversupply causes prices to drop, according to a report from market research firm iSuppli Corp.
Worldwide revenue from shipments of panels is predicted to decline to $12.9 billion in 2009 - down 19.1% from $15.9 billion in 2008. The plunge in revenue will come despite an 9.6% rise in GW installations of solar panels in 2009 - growing to 4.2 GW for the year, up from 3.8 GW in 2008.
However, 11.1 GW worth of panels will be produced in 2009 - up 62% from 7.7 GW in 2008, the company says. This means that supply will exceed demand by 168% in 2009 - up from 102% in 2008.
SOURCE: iSuppli Corp.
Monday 15 December 2008
Dow Corning Makes Multibillion Dollar Investment In Solar Tech
Dow Corning Corp. and its and Hemlock Semiconductor joint ventures have announced more than $3 billion of investment to provide materials to the solar technology industry. Primarily, the company will begin manufacturing high-purity monosilane, a specialty gas used to manufacture thin-film solar cells.
With the investment, Dow Corning will construct a new monosilane manufacturing facility in Hemlock, Mich., adjacent to Hemlock Semiconductor Corp.'s polysilicon manufacturing site. The companies will also expand Hemlock Semiconductor Corp.'s existing Michigan manufacturing facility and build a new site in Clarksville, Tenn., to increase manufacturing capacity for polysilicon. Construction of both the polysilicon expansions and the new monosilane site will begin immediately.
"This significant investment to become a leading supplier of monosilane for thin-film solar technology will expand our feedstock offering and will further reinforce our position as a value-added material supplier to the solar industry," says Eric Peeters, global executive director of Dow Corning Solar Solutions.
SOURCE: Dow Corning