solar energy, photovoltaics and solar technology news articles 
AES Solar Energy reaches financial close on 8 MW Torchiarolo solar PV project in Italy
AES Solar Energy Ltd has announced that one of its subsidiaries closed on long-term non-recourse financing facilities of €31 million to finance the construction of the 8 MW Torchiarolo solar photovoltaic (PV) facility project, located in the Puglia region of Italy. David Sundstrom, AES Solar Country Manager for Italy stated, “Reaching financial close on the 8 MW Torchiarolo project, our second solar PV project in Italy this year, demonstrates AES Solar’s strong capabilities in project finance and development. We appreciate the continued support of lenders as we move forward to develop our p... [more]
Carbon nanobased transparent electrode increases the efficiency of thin-film PV panels
Students from Stanford University in California have developed a cutting-edge design that can increase the efficiency of photovoltaic panels through the use of a new kind of electrodes. This technology won the recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology Clean Energy Prize. The electrode technology was a product of a team named C3Nano, which was comprised of postgraduate chemical engineering scientists from Stanford. C3Nano competed against 60 other teams from 35 schools. The electrode technology, called the “carbon nanobased transparent electrode” will increase the efficiency of thin-film ... [more]
Only ten days left to make an application for financial assistance to install solar thermal water heating in Scotland
Scotland's homeowners need to act quickly if they want to make their properties more eco-friendly after a surprise announcement by the Government to axe their home renewables grant scheme. Solar Power Scotland said the decision – it had been expected the grants would remain on offer for another six months – means people only have three weeks left to make an application for financial assistance to install the likes of solar thermal water heating. The closing date for the Energy Saving Trust Scotland home renewables grant scheme – an initiative that currently provides homeowners with 30% o... [more]
Intertek doubles photovoltaic testing capacity at Lake Forest lab
Intertek has doubled the photovoltaic (PV) testing capacity in their Lake Forest, CA lab. The expansion is in response to growing demand for PV products and the company’s dedication to providing the industry’s fastest project turnaround. The state of the art testing laboratory is equipped with solar simulators, environmental chambers, rain & hail testers, impact and mechanical loading apparatus, among other equipment. Intertek’s Lake Forest lab began PV testing in October 2008 and has since expanded its solar testing scope to include Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), energy efficien... [more]
SANYO and the University of California collaborate on research for the next generation of solar energy systems and energy management
The SANYO Electric Group and the University of California, San Diego have announced a research collaboration agreement designed to lead to the next generation of solar energy systems and energy management. Under the agreement, SANYO and UC San Diego will collaborate on multi-year, multi-disciplinary projects in the areas of renewable energy and energy storage research, development and education. SANYO will contribute $3 million over three years to fund the collaborative research projects. The agreement is the first of its kind that SANYO has made with a university in the United States in the a... [more]
