Solar Energy Investing

thespectrum.com reports a storage unit facility in Cedar City, UT has introduced new units run entirely on solar energy. The new 10 unit storage facility will provide customers with less expensive and more environmentally responsible storage options. The storage facility will be included in the Solar Tours as a contributing Utah business.

Bloomberg.com reports BP will close their solar power plant in Sydney, Australia to focus on lower-cost locations.  The plant manufactures solar photovoltaic cells and panels, but most manufacturing plants generate 20 times the amount of the 50MW plant in Sydney.   Currently this plant accounts for 17% of BP Solar’s total manufacturing capacity, 200 jobs will be lost.

KATC.com reports Lousiana’s Lafayette Middle School has installed a 1kW solar panel to provide electricity and a computer monitoring system to allow the kids to survey the effects of the solar panel.  Incentives for solar power have allowed this technology to become more and more popular for your home.

Environmental Leader reports a ground mounted solar power system is being installed at North Face’s distribution center to supply 25-30% of the facility’s energy needs.  This installation is part of North Faces’s broader climate change strategy to offset 100% of the CO2 emmissions associated with their North American operation.

Greentechmedia reports Solyndra has signed a $320 million contract with Carlisle Energy Services.  The roofing system maker will begin offering Solyndra’s solar panels in 2009 and Solyndra will supply 100MW of solar panels over a five year period.  The solar panels’ efficiency is boosted by 20% because of Carlisle’s white thermoplastic polyolefin roofing membrane.

My Bataan reports the resort being designed to overlook the Manila Bay in Bataan will feature complete solar power generated electricity.  This electricity will be used to power the club house, swimming pools, houses, street lights, 100 individual rooms, and more.

TheAge.com.au reports the BP Solar Factory in Sydney, Australia announced they will be closing their doors by March, leaving 200 people without work.  The factory manufactures solar panels and is relocating in the interest of saving money on manufacturing costs.  The move could possibly be to to India, China, the U.S., or Spain.

The Sault Star reports Pod Generating has purchased land in Ontario, Canada and has committed to building  a 60MW solar farm.  Once complete, the solar farm will be the largest in Canada.

PV-Tech.org reports the French government plans to double their solar power and renewable energy sources by 2020 with the help of an incentive plan.  The plan calls for Euro 30c/kWh for residential rooftop installations, and Euro 45 c/kWh for large commercial installations.  New installations grew to 45MW in 2007 and a solar power plant is now planned for each French region by 2011.

Renewable Energy News reports solar panels face the challenge of transplanted trees on a neighbor’s property that create shade, thus the solar panels generate less electricity.  California implemented the Solar Shade Control Act in 1979 where violators can be fined up to $1,000 day if their overgrown trees create shade for solar panels.