Forbes.com reports that Acciona SA plans to invest over 200 million euros ($253 million) to build the world’s largest solar energy plant in Moura, Portugal. The plant is expected to have total capacity of 62 megawatts. Acciona will finish construction by 2010 and the plant will produce approximately 91 million kilowatts per hour.
Iowa State University News Service reports that University researchers are working with SolarFilm to produce thin, flexible solar panels with improved performance and stability. The researchers have discovered ways to improve hydrogen bonding to the silicon in thin solar cells that could increase the cells’ performance by 40 to 50 percent.
The project is partially supported by a $63,406 grant from an Iowa economic development program.
The Denver Channel reports that Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy has chosen Baltimore’s SunEdison to build a $60 million solar electric plant in Colorado, which is planned to be the largest solar power project in the country. The 8-megawatt solar farm is expected to go online by the end of 2007 and would be capable of powering 2,600 homes.
The plant is part of Xcel’s response to a Colorado initiative requiring utilities to generate at least 10 percent of their electricity with renewable sources by 2015.
Business Times reports that, to increase interest and investment in developing Malaysia’s solar energy production, the government has launched the Malaysia Building Integrated Photovoltaic Technology Application Project to promote the use of solar electricity in the country’s buildings. RM88 million (about $29 million) has been committed to photovoltaic development over the next five years.
By establishing a local market for solar power, Malaysia hopes local and foreign investors will be attracted to the sector.
The Border Mail reports that Townsville, Australia, has bought into the Federal Government’s Solar Cities project, which kick-starts solar projects in urban areas by encouraging joint funding with government and private enterprise.
The Townsville solar city consortium will provide $15 million for the project, matching the Government’s $15 million, and the project will involve installation of solar panels in 500 homes and businesses.
AZoBuild.com reports that increasing fuel and heating oil prices have more and more people interested in installing solar energy systems in their homes. Despite the fact that solar systems cost 10 to 20 percent more to install, they pay for themselves in about five years in climates where they are used up to 75 percent of the year - as is the case in North America.
People are also becoming more attracted to solar power because it does not add pollution to the environment as do fossil fuel systems.
The Union-Tribune reports that a California apartment building, Fairbanks Ridge, has installed 170-watt solar panels on the roofs of 20 carports of the 204-unit complex. The system has 1,080 panels with the capacity to generate up to 184 kilowatts of energy - enough to power about 50 single-family homes.
The panels generate the energy to heat a swimming pool, light the play area and power a computer room, office and laundry. Excess electricity is fed back into the grid.
Semiconductor International reports that September’s “The Economist” outlined three novel approaches to increase the efficiency of non-silicon based solar cells. The scarcity of silicon is the main reason for the high price of solar energy, yet its high efficiency at conversion of sunlight into power has kept it as the main ingredient in solar cells.
The alternative approaches include using titanium oxide to increase the conductivity of plastics, creating dye-sensitised solar cells that mimic the photosynthesis of plants, and applying a hair-like coating of carbon nantubes to cadmium sulphide, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide based solar cells.
Middle East Business News reports that a researcher from Bahrain University Sciences has advised that the country consider constructing solar energy installations, pointing to Bahrain’s hot summer climate as ideal for the technology. Dr Haifa Al Maskati said Bahrain doesn’t have enough wind or water current to produce alternative energy and its non-renewable resources such as fossil fuel need to be conserved/p>
The issue will be discussed at the Arab Regional Conference on Solar Power from November 5 to 7.
Sunshine Coast Daily reports that Nambour General Hospital in Queensland has installed five rows of solar panels nearly 60 metres long on the roof of the doctors’ parking garage; part of its plan to reduce the hospital’s carbon emissions by an estimated 3,296 tons – the equivalent of output of 810 cars.
The $3.1 million Environmental Protection Agency and Queensland Health initiative aims to reduce energy use at the hospital, including electricity, gas and water.
These articles are for information only, and are not to be construed as financial advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell securities. This web site is owned and operated by Reid, Brown & Co., LLC. Copyright © 2006 by Reid, Brown & Co., LLC.