Solar Energy Investing

PV-Tech.org reports MIT has been awarded $3 million to further develop self aligned cell technology, a method that allows for a cost effective and manufacturable multicrystalline solar cell.  The project is in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.  Funding was made possible under the Solar America Initiative.

The National reports Dipal Barua, founder of Grammen Shakti, won the Zayed Future Energy Prize.  This non-profit agency allows for poor villagers to have solar energy systems to provide electricity.  He plans to use the US $1.5 million prize money as scholarships for women entreprenuers and has goals to create 100,000 green jobs.

AllHeadlineNews.com reports the World Bank will provide $90 million to promote solar power in Bangladesh.  The country will also receive another $10 million to explore other renewable energy sources because their natural gas reserve is only estimated to last through 2012.

kjct8.com reports Grand Junction Arts Center now features a solar power system that is installed on their roof.  The 9.02kW system was donated and is expected to bring a savings of 10-15% in electric costs annually.  The system will also prevent 26,000 pounds of carbon emissions into the air.

iStockAnalyst reports Alamogordo White-Sands airport has installed an 8kW solar array.  The system will save $400-500 a month in electric costs.  New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources department gave the airport a $100,000 grant to install the system that will also have an educational component with the students at New Mexico State University.

Cleantech reports SolaireDirect has raised $25 million (USD) to finance commercial solar parks.  This is their second round of funding, and they plan to build solar parks that will equivelate to 300MW of solar power and €1.2 billion.  This would make SolaireDirect the third largest French solar developer.

The Lumber Jack reports Humboldt State University will install solar panels on the roof of their old music building.  Students have contributed to this project through their registration fees that go to the Humboldt Energy Independence Fund.  The purpose of this fund is to create an energy independent university.  Four students of the Renewable Energy Student Union designed the solar panel system that will produce 10.5 kW.

Your Industry News reports a 45 kWh photovoltaic solar power system in San Benito, Texas was awarded the Texas Renewable Energy Project of the Year Award.  This project was funded the $325,000 by the EPA and is the largest of its kind along the US-Mexican border.

EE Times reports $2.5 million has been provided to develop flexible organic solar cells and modules.  The project has hopes to increase efficiency by 10% and to create a process that is cost effective to print these cells.  The results are expected to be available by 2012.

InsideBayArea.com reports 20 volunteers from PepsiCo transformed an old home into “Green X-ray Home.”  Owned by the city of San Francisco, the home will act as a teaching tool for an eco-friendly lifestyle.  The three bedroom home features solar panels, drought tolerant plants, and double paned windows.  A family will move in in 2010 and 65% of their electricity will be solar powered.