Solar Energy Investing

Renewable Energy World reports Apollo Solar will develop a seamless two way power flow of the future.  The company has been contracted by the US Department of Energy to complete the first of three phases to develop more affordable and efficient technology to increase the value of solar power systems.  $4.1 million will be invested into the three phases.  Apollo Solar will develop inverters, charge controllers, and an energy management system.

DJC.com reports Green River Community College’s new Marv Nelson Science Learning Center celebrates sustainability by featuring solar shading to control window glare and darken rooms.  The design won a grant for beating the local energy code requirements by 30%.

PRNewswire reports FTL Solar has received a second $250,000 development grant from The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.  This money will be used to accelerate the development of parking structures that utilize photovoltaic power technology.

Baltimore Business Journal reports the Maryland Energy Administration increased the individual grant award by $7,000 for homeowners to install solar power systems.  This piqued the interest in residents so much that applications that were approved will receive no funding as it has already been given away.

Greentechmedia.com reports Roche Palo Alto, California has applied for the largest solar power system in the city.  The 112,000 square foot photovoltaic system will be mounted on several rooftops and managed by Solar Power Partners.  This project will have the capacity to power 172 homes when running at peak operation.

Earth2Tech reports Xunlight just received $4.9 million in funding from Ohio’s Research Commercialization Program.  This funding comes after a $1 million public grant from Ohio’s Alternative Energy Program.  The funding will be used to secure in-state thin-film solar jobs.  Xunlight has built a pilot plant for its roll-to-toll solar technology and has 100kW of capacity to print its silicon-based cells.

Star News Group reports Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association sayst aht federal government rebates to install solar power is discouraging homeonwers.  The Solar Homes and Communities Plan only allows the funding to households that have less than $100,000 income for an $8,000 rebate.

Yourcanterbury.co.uk reports £600 grants are available to homeowners looking to install solar hot water and electric systems in England.  This money is in addition to the £400 in government funding from the Low Carbon Building Programme.   With this savings, homeowners could install a solar power system for a mere £2000.

Venture Beat reports Optisolar, a thin film solar panel manufacturer, has expanded greatly since opening their solar farm in Ontario, Canada a year ago.  Three new farms and an expansion to their original location are happening right now, including a 550 MW solar farm in California that is expected to power 190,000 homes - a huge undertaking.  Funding is coming from private investors, which is why the company has been growing at a huge rate so quietly.

Capital News 9 reports Caretaker Farm is an organic farm that uses renewable resources to harvest their crops.  The farm recently received $64,000 in grants to install photovoltaic solar panels that will provide 90% of the farm’s electricity needs.