Solar Energy Investing

Engineering News reports that renewable energy solutions will be discussed at the Solar World Congress in October. The event will be held in Johannesburg and is expected to bring in over 1,000 delegates. The gathering will highlight the most recent developments in the energy industry.

RenewableEnergyWorld.com reports that Siemens has constructed a photovoltaic plant in Italy. The plant has an output of 1 megawatt and is ground-based. Siemens teamed up with Farrarelle S.p.A to create the project and it’s located just north of Naples.

1888PressRelease.com reports that Germany’s geography makes it a less desirable place for solar energy. The country only receives low to moderate levels of solar radiation although it ranks second in the world when it comes to photovoltaic power.

PR-Canada.net reports that Sustainable Energy Technologies has announced plans to unveil its SUNERGY II project. The unit is a solar inverter platform in North America and Europe and will be made possible by the recently secured $7.6 million in funding that the company has received.

PopSci.com reports that Bertrand Piccard, a Swiss pilot, will begin to test the Solar Impulse–a solar-powered airplane. The aircraft has been created to fly around the world without burning any oil. Skeptics are aplenty, but Piccard is eager to demonstrate that the sky is the limit when it comes to renewable energy.

BusinessWeek.com reports that the green energy market has been struggling financially since mid-2008. German company Q-Cells, the solar cell maker, had a first quarter loss and had to cut down their expectations for 2009. Howeve, experts expect these companies to get back on their feet when economic incentives start to kick in for companies who go “green.”

RSC.org reports that Sweden scientists have improved the output of a dye-based solar energy unit. Researchers say that their findings could be combined with dye-sensitised cells to create solar cells twice as more active as ones currently on the market.

PowerBoat-World.com reports that two Europeans are planning to set sail on a voyage around the world on a solar-powered boat in 120 days. Raphael Domjan and Gerard d’Aboville would be the first accomplish the feat. They plan to set sail sometime in 2010.

FoxBusiness.com reports that First Solar, Inc of Tempe, Arizona has announnced plans to construct a power plant near Cottbus, Germany. The photovoltaic unit will have an output of 53 megawatts. The company reports that they have gained nearly 80% of the required finances.

The Guardian reports that employees of UK solar power companies are being terminated just a few weeks after the government vowed to create more eco-friendly jobs. Companies are set to protest the prime minister after some 400,000 new jobs were promised.