At University of Buffalo, researchers have already demonstrated that embedding quantum dots into modern photovoltaic cells increase the energy output significantly. It allows the cells to generate energy from infrared light and therefore, the energy that can be harvested from photoelectrons is amplified.

In the Journal of Nano Letters, in May, the research team having Andrei Sergeev, Vladimir Mitin and Nizami Vagidov from the faculty of UB’s electrical engineering department; Kimberly Sablon a nanofabricate expert and John Little from the U.S. Army Research laboratory; John Little; as well as Kitt Reinhardt from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

OPtoElectronic Nanodevices LLC (OPEN LLC) is a company that has been founded by Vagidov and Mitin Sergeev, in order to provide rapid innovation into the commercialized market.

Mitin says that since a decade ago, scientists have been trying to effectively integrate quantum dots to solar panels. It has been known since long that, this would enhance the efficiency by permitting the solar cells to capture invisible (infrared) light. Yet, previous studies have been hit by limitations.

The UB team and the military colleagues have been able to integrated quantum dots, to exploit infrared light, but also they have been able to significantly increase the built-in charge of the dots present in the solar cells.

The built-in charge is highly advantageous, electrons repel and this compels electrons to move within the quantum dots. The advantage of harvesting moving electrons is that electric currents are avoided.

Mitin, a SUNY Distinguished professor at UB’s office of Science, Technology Transfer, and Economic Outreach (STOR) says that the efficiency of the solar cells has increased to 45 percent.

The presence of highly efficient solar cells will bring clean technology to another playground. Solar energy will become cheaper, requiring smaller footprint and provides affordable energy to consumers.

Currently, OPEN LLC is seeking for federal programs as well as private investors to fund the projects to bring the quantum dot with a built in charge to the market. The team has already spent long-days in developing this astounding solar cell technology.

Source: Science Daily and ACS Publications

© Jimmy Eriksson for Renewable Power News, 2012. | Permalink | No comment

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Alternative Power Sources, Photovoltaics, Renewable Power, Solar Power.

According to Zhu’s team, it was found that the efficiency of harnessing electrons from a single photon of sunlight could be doubled by the use of organic plastic semiconductor material.

Zhu says that plastic semiconductor solar cell has several advantages such as low cost, capability for synthesis thanks to molecular design and this makes it possible to exploit solar energy at far more efficient levels than currently.

This break-through was published by Zhu and his team in Science, 16th of December 2011.

Currently, conventional silicon solar cell can reach a maximum theoretical efficiency rate of 31 percent, and this is because most of the sunrays that struck the cell are too strong to be converted into electricity. The ‘hot electron’ is heat energy that is practically lost. Solar cells that could capture hot electrons could boost up the energy conversion rate of solar energy from 31 to 66 percent.

Recently, in 2010, Zhu and his team showed that it is possible to harness hot electrons by the use of semiconductor nano-crystals. However, Zhu admits that introducing such technology is extremely complex.

According to Zhu, an efficiency rate of 66 percent can only be captured when sunlight is focused on the solar panel not only raw sunlight. So there is a need to develop a new engineered device that ensures higher concentration of sunlight.

The team found a solution to this, when they found that a photon can make a dark quantum or so called ‘shadow state’ whereby two electrons can be captured via the use of a semi-conductor pentacene.

The use of this simple mechanism would practically increase converstion rate of solar cells by 44 percent. There would also be no need to develop a new device to have a concentrated solar beam. According to Zhu, it is a technology that could be pervasively used by the public.

Main Facts in the Findings:

1. When a photon is absorbed in a pentacene semi-conductor, it makes a so called excited electron-hole pair, which is known as an exciton.
2. An exciton is practically a pair of quantum forming a dark ‘shadow state’ which is known as multiexciton.
3. When an electron material is used like fullerene, the dark shadow state can very efficiently absorb two electrons.
4. The Dark Shadow state can increase the efficiency of solar cells by as much as 44 percent.

The National Science Foundation as well as the Department of energy sponsored this research that was spearheaded by Wai-lun Chan; One of Zhu’s postdoctoral fellows. In the team, other postdoctoral fellows were involved including Luis Miaja-Avila, Loren Kaake, Manuel Ligges and Askat Jailaubekov.

Source: Science Daily and Zeitnews

© Jimmy Eriksson for Renewable Power News, 2011. | Permalink | No comment

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Alternative Power Sources, Global Energy, Photovoltaics, Renewable Power, Solar Power.

The journal Solar Energy has recently published a paper signed by Evelyn Wang, associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, and graduate student Nenad Miljkovic, in which a new approach is described for producing both thermal and electric energy within one single installation. The two authors propose the use of thermoelectrics with concave mirrors. Thermoelectrics are appliances that convert temperature variations into an electric current, within a curved mirror trough. The components of such a device are a glass tube installed along the trough, and a convex mirror that focuses the solar heat on the glass pipe, in order to heat the pumped liquid inside the tube. The liquid is used either as steam for an electric turbine generator, or as a thermal agent for heating spaces or for other industry purposes.

The classical solar systems are producing electricity – photovoltaic cells – or heat. The novelty of the MIT research is a combination of the both, resulting in a less expensive and more economic solution. The new idea consists of introducing a thermosiphon into the system. A thermosiphon is a device that continuously transfers heat from the thermoelectric appliance, keeping the liquid inside the thermoelectric at a constant temperature. So, while solar energy captured and focused by the parabolic mirror heats the liquid, the thermosiphon draws thermal energy away from the tube.

Thermosiphons are tubes filled with elements that can change phase – for example, going from liquid to vapor while being heated. The natural thermal conductivity (i.e. the capacity of transferring temperatures from one place to another) of the element inside the thermosiphon can be “much higher than any solid material.” According to Evelyn Wang, this is a highly performing taxonomy to change heat into other uses.

The interesting concept of Wang and Miljkovic relates to the way they designed the whole system: A series of concentric tubes, each with its role: a larger tube contains the liquid to be heated; inside this exterior tube, another pipe, of smaller diameter, contains the thermoelectric material; a third tube, inside the second one, houses the thermosiphon that passively transfers heat from the thermoelectric. The system would eliminate re-pumping the cooled liquid back into the exterior tube – as would normally happen in a custom concave mirror trough device. The inventors showed that the heat drained by the thermosiphon could heat water for radiators, tap warm water or industrial use.

Evelyn Wang emphasized several advantages of the idea:

1. Thermoelectrics can be much cheaper than photovoltaics.

8. Although several companies do, in their turn, researches in this field, nothing has been published yet, and that means those researches have not reached significant results.

The authors of the paper designed a computer model to test different materials for the thermoelectrics and the thermosiphon. Their goal is to try all possible combinations and find out which of them works best for different operating conditions. Wang and Miljkovic want their innovating system to get maximum efficiency with the computer model, only to go to lab experiments after satisfactory results.

The idea aroused scientific interest: Abraham Kribus, a professor of mechanical engineering at Tel Aviv University in Israel, said that Wang and Miljkovic research was a strongly showing that new theoretical conversion efficiency could be reaped for dual output; electricity and high temperature.

Yet, Kribus expressed his caution, that the idea – attractive and innovative – is in its incipient stage, and that the system is not researched enough, at least in its price and dependability against classic solar systems. Kribus said that his opinion was not a criticism, but the current stage of development of the system needs further proof of functioning. In General, the research papers demonstrate an innovative start with a competitive team.

Despite the reservation of the scientific community, Wang and Miljkovic go on working on their idea, in their attempt to demonstrate that such a system could really function. They admitted it could take them a few years before they could realize a functional prototype.

Source: Physorg.

© Jimmy Eriksson for Renewable Power News, 2011. | Permalink | No comment

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Alternative Power Sources, Solar Power.

In a recent interview, the Rwandese Minister of Local Government, James Musoni, stated that they are ready to work in cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) to supply solar panels to the local administrations.

Musoni said they were trying to work with MININFRA to implement solar energy “mainly at administrative areas, trading centers, communal settlements, health centers and schools among others.”

He continued saying that the solar power solution would solve the power problem and give the cell leaders the possibility to make use of their laptops.

The minister also stated that 800 laptops had been distributed by that time, and that other 2.018 cells in the country would be supplied with computers by the end of the project.

The project, noted the Minister, had begun in already electrified areas, where Internet connection was available.

Musoni added that areas that had power would start using the computers directly. Cell leaders are facilitating solar energy to power computers.

The end of the equipping exercise, the Minister said, is scheduled for next June.

Musoni specified that the Ministry would develop a training program in one of the most asked for activity – database management; the training would be targeting local leaders unfamiliar with computer applications. He added that computer use would help population with prompt service delivery.

Source: EV -Wind

© Jimmy Eriksson for Renewable Power News, 2011. | Permalink | No comment

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Alternative Power Sources, Renewable Power.

The future of solar energy might be re-shaped by two employees from a Vienna-based company (Heliovis). Samuel Kutter and Felix Tiefenbacher have constructed an astounding prototype of a 35-metre long-tube, of a diameter of 2 meters. In 2016, the finalized 200 meter long tube device is expected to be released on the market.

The Two Swiss energy pioneers have been granted the authorisation to try their devise at Dürnrohr steam power plant which is situated near to Zwentendorf in Austria.

After the first stage of progress, Mr. Tiefenbacher is reasonably satisfied with the result. The welded joints of their inflated tube were able to support x-ray’s tests. However, on the downside, s slight push of wind guest was enough to break the outer film.

The engineers are now restoring the tube into a functional condition. While a quantum physicist, coming from Basel explained how the ‘heliotube’ is capable of converting sunlight into energy.

HelioTube (Picture from Swissinfo)

How does the System?

There is a long cylinder, which has reflective films, splitting the tube into two highly tight air-chambers. As soon as there is a difference in the pressure between the lower and upper chamber, the film begins to curve downwards. This generates a channel for the light to focus.

The sunlight will be going into the transparent upper film, and afterward. It will be reflected-off the slightly curved mirror film to target a focal point. There are thermal absorbers installed to capture this focused light and to generate steam. The steam can be used for various industrial processes or simply to produce electricity.

Mr. Tiefenbacher, says that the black pipe absorbs light and converts it into heat. A fluid such as water is injected into the pipe. This fluid will be warmed and changed into steam. The steam will spin a turbine and produce electricity.

The Solar Blow-Up Idea

It was in 2007 that Mr. Tiefenbacher was enriched about this breakthrough idea, after meeting an Austrian, Johannes Höfler. In the matter of a few seconds, the Swiss physicist knew that this would be a great business opportunity – easy to explain, and with a great market possibility.

After two years a company named Heliovis was established in a garage. The objective of the company was to establish a patent for the technology. Since 2010, Heliovis has been operational in Wiener Neudorf’s industrial zone and does currently employ 18 people for the project.

The managing director of Heliovis, a Swiss physicist known as Samuel Kutter; in the past, he did work for the large German’s E.ON.

Advanced Materials

Over the year, several test have been conducted on the tube, and materials are being changed to assure optimum efficiency. Now, the main problem is to find the right materials.

There are some pre-defined specifications for the films used:

1. The UV-films must be stable
2. Weather and damp resistant
3. Scratch Resistance
4. Easy to Clean

In a few years, the films used will be generated by a single machine. However, it will take a few years for the development to become fully efficient. The objective of the firm is to enter the market in 2016.

Objective of Blow-up Project – Cheaper Solar Energy

The main objective of the project is not to establish a more efficient solar-energy transformation system. The aim is to make solar power affordable. The use of fewer materials induces various benefits.

One thing is for sure, that the weight of the product will be only 10 percent of typical parabolic troughs. In addition, the installation and production cost will be lower.

In general, a typical industrial solar collector (parabolic through) cost approximately €350 per each square metre while the heliotube covering the same surface area will only cost around €90.

Finished Product –

The Heliotube ones finalized will be 200 metres long, with a standard diameter of 12 meters. The product will be sold in bulk orders, and the target clients are big energy companies.

Tiefenbacher says that they are building this product for large power station of 50 to 100 MW. For renewable power plants 50 to 100 MW is extremely large but if compared against typical nuclear power stations that generate GW, it is still relatively small.

Helio-tube – Should Be Used In Desert Regions

The Heliotube won’t work effectively in cloudy latitudes. In other words, the product should be established in areas where the sky is less cloudy such as in the Southern Spain, dry regions and the Sahara.

Source: Swiss Info

© Jimmy Eriksson for Renewable Power News, 2011. | Permalink | No comment

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Alternative Power Sources, Global Energy, Photovoltaics, Renewable Power, Solar Power.

Spain’s three biggest utility companies – Iberdrola, Endesa and Gas Natural – who have long been lobbying the Spanish government to stop subsidising the increase of solar and other alternative energy projects is now being challenged by the renewable energy source lobby.

There are even deeper divisions between the traditional energy industry and the alternative sector than elsewhere in the world, according to the Director for Regulation of Iberdrola, Carlos Salle. In an interview with The Guardian said that there are disagreements between renewable and non-renewable sources in Spain. The worse is that it steaming concerns.

The relations between the two sectors were somewhat funny – but only just – it was commonly referred to as being like a “war”, by a Madrid businessman from one of Spain’s top companies. Spain’s solar industry body, Asif – Asociación de la Industria Fotovoltaica – has accused politicians of justifying subsidy cuts by falsely overstating the costs of solar generated energy.

Spain’s utility companies have already subsidised solar and wind energy projects to the tune of €20bn of which the solar sector received €2.6bn (£2.28bn) These funds, which have yet to be paid back by the government, are more than the country or utility companies can easily afford.

The utility companies’ credit rating is in danger of being demoted if their tariff deficit is not addressed.

About a decade ago power black-outs caused the government to encourage the utility companies to build gas and coal generating plants. These are now generating at only about 50% of capacity and consequently, are steadily losing money. But rather than closing half of them down, the government insists that all must be kept on standby for times when alternative energy generation is impossible, such as at night and on windless days.

The main problem seems to lie in the fact that the alternative energy generation schemes grew far too quickly, due to a massive injection of subsidy and other investment capital. Even though solar projects generated a maximum of 4% of Spain’s energy needs last summer, they could cut costs fast – about 70% since 2004 alone. The subsidy funding was too generous.

It attracted a huge amount of investment and a sudden surge in the installation of generating capacity in 2008, before a tariff cut was introduced in 2009.

The net result was that by 2010 Spain had 10 times more, solar energy generating capacity than it was planned for, and a much larger bill than ever thought possible.

Challenging the tariff cuts in court will not provide a speedy solution, and by the time the issues have been resolved many smaller solar producers will have been forced out of business, said Asif’s president Javier Anta. He continued by adding that investors are losing faith in the government and consequently, refraining from new investment.

The fact that the government has decided to retroactively cut subsidies, which had been promised to extant generating projects, will scare off new investors. This is the one area that all generators – traditional or alternative – agree upon.

Changing Standards

Using experience gained in 70 years of business, a Spanish engineering firm – Abengoa – is continuing development of solar energy projects. It is working on a new method of solar energy generation using towers of pipes rather than more traditional pipe layouts. Its solar power generating plant employs 23,000 workers, and has a turnover exceeding €3bn (£2.6bn).

The sustainability of potential projects is carefully audited and any that does not measure up to severe standards are rejected. Even though bio-fuels are a hot potato due to their potential for depriving poor people in the developing world of food sources, Abengoa stands strongly behind them.

Abengoa removed seeds and fruit from plant material before processing into bio-fuel. Carlos Bousoño, Abengoa’s director of corporate social responsibility, affirmed that only stalks and waste material were fermented into bio-fuels, and the soya, corn and other food types were saved for nutritional purposes.

Source: Guradian

© Jimmy Eriksson for Renewable Power News, 2011. | Permalink | No comment

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Alternative Power Sources, Renewable Power, Solar Power.

Here is the analysis done by a reporter who won an award for making solar energy reports. This analysis reveals the important steps taken by the green industry.

Special: Silicon PV Panels with back contact

It’s only the energy department which emphasizes on the research of solar technology instead of just making breaking news. Similar news was disclosed in September about the installation of solar panel of 205 KW, on DOE’s headquarter roof in Washington DC. This panel was made by Sun Power Corporation, which is based in Silicon Valley.

Mr. Samuel Bodman who is the secretary at the energy department declared this choice as very practical. He said that this is practical because in the beginning of the year the photovoltaic cells of silicon were found to have an effectiveness of around 23.4 percent. In this process, the SunPower uses a design known as back-contact, according to which the electricity is harnessed at the back side of PV cells. Whereas it leaves the front side of cell open to sun. Though these types of designs are very effective, it is only in the recent years that the cost has been going down.

This design is considered symbolic as it reveals how a solar technology should be introduced to the market. First of all, the PV design with a back panel was made in early 1980 at Stanford University, and then later in 1985; SunPower was established. Mr. Larry Kazmersi who is the Director of the National Center for Photovoltaic says that research progress shouldn’t take 30 years. He said that the time for bringing the product from the lab to the consumer should be reduced. Mr. Larry is the director at NREL; national renewable energy laboratory.

The study found that PV cells are 50 percent more efficient in comparison to the typical crystalline silicon cells. A future project is also in line, which includes a 250 MW solar plant in California. This is the biggest PV installation which is made on the temporary basis.

Micro inverters

There is a problem which people have to face when they install PV panels. This is a problem regarding electrical engineering. The power generated by the solar panels is direct current, whereas our electrical appliances of daily use need AC (that means alternating current). Some systems are developed, which can change DC into AC, but due to these systems certain amount of power is lost. Moreover, it is also expensive for home appliances.

So to eliminate this problem a new system is developed called micro inverters. This is a small device which is attached to each solar panel directly. This device makes every panel capable of producing AC other than DC. The function of each panel can be inspected by attaching a wireless system with the panel. This combination of the micro inverter and monitoring device will be able to encourage the development of big grids of solar power. Mr. Patrick Chapman from Smart Spark energy says that companies are keen on bringing this new technology to the market.

The company along with other 12 companies got a grant of $24 million from DOE in August. This grant is issued for the development grids for solar energy. These grids if successful will generate enough power, so that solar panels for home electrical needs can be made really effective. Though this was neglected in the past but now companies are considering it. The first micro inverter was introduced in the market in June, 2009, by Enphase Energy. And it earned a capital of $15 million in September, which is enough to meet the increased demands.

Concentrating PV panels

Almost all the big companies regarding solar power do not disclose the exact cost of technology they are producing. In a way you can say that it’s always more costly as compared to burning coal. But this trend was broken by Sunrgi in April, 2009, who made a prediction that their solar panels will generate electricity at a cost of only $0.05 per KW per hour, which is extremely cheap. Their panels are highly concentrated.

Mr. Robert Block who is the maker of this company said that we developed XCPV in slightly more than a year He also said that we are hopeful that in 12 to 15 months Sunrgi system will serve on grid power applications as well as off grid power applications.

This system involves using lenses to catch sunlight by using 1600 factors. This is similar to fry an ant with magnifying glass by a kid. This gives synergy an opportunity to use only a few expensive semiconductors, which make solar cells. This saves a lot of money but generates a fundamental amount of power. A record of producing 40.8 percent by prototype cell was seen at NREL. This was based on an illumination with concentrated light same as what would be produced by 326 suns.

Some other companies are also included in the race of making concentrating PV successful commercially. It’s been found that another company which is from Mexico named as Emcore has broken all the records. According to this record, the solar cells will give an efficiency of 45 percent after combining with concentrating mirrors and lenses. In this device, the solar cells used are of inverted metamorphic multi junction type.

Similarly, another company as Solaria has designed the device which increases sunlight with the minimum use of silicon.

Thin Film: GIGS Panels

The growth of solar power used to be slow due to the high cost of silicon. Besides due to a continuous shortage in solar power, this caused an increase in price of silicon. Moreover, as the world is facing economic crises, so the improvement was slow. Similarly other conductors which can be used in PV cells instead of silicon are expensive. However, thin films of these conductors are used, which involves less material to make cells.

In the technology of thin film the main leader is First Solar, which is a company from Arizona. It makes PV cells by using cadmium telluride. This company was able to produce one giga-watt of solar modules in 2009. However, the conversion efficiency was only 10 percent, besides cadmium was also considered a complication during the process of making panels.

Kazmerski from NREL also suggested that panels of thin films of CIGS i.e. cadmium indium gallium selenide should be made. He said that this device is highly attractive. NREL made a record by making CIGS cell with an efficiency of 19.9 percent, which is 2 times more than the efficiency of First Solar’s cells. And it is also equal to the silicon panels’ efficiency.

A scientist from NREL said that it’s a good step ahead, as we are touching the same goal as expected by most of the companies dealing in thin film. These companies expected that the performance of film will be same as that of silicon.

As a result of this development, several new and fresh companies are investing on CIGS technology. These companies include, Nan solar, which is San Jose based, Miasola from Santa Clara and Hellio volt from Austin Emergence. There are many beginners. Kazmersi says that though everybody cannot be successful but, even if anyone is successful it will bring great rewards.

Solar thermal storage

Lots of questions arise in the mind of people while discussing solar power. One such question is that what will happen if the sun changes its position and goes down. As the cost of the batteries is very high with a limited storage ability, so answering this question is difficult.

A construction on a plant called Andasol 1, which is situated on Guadix plateau in a Spanish province, called Grenda is having a thermal storage capacity. In the beginning, this will be the first solar power plant which will have a thermal storage capacity. This battery can work for 7.5 hours when the sun changes its position by going down or by going behind the clouds.

Mr. Fred who is a former official from DOE said that this news has attracted people from around the world. This aspect also shows the change of thought towards solar power. As now instead of inducing energy in grids the utilities can absorb and save energy when the sun is shining. This will drastically reduce the cost of electricity.

Andasol1 plant was constructed by a German based company called Solar Millennium AG. This will combine with Andasol2 in 2009 and then both the plants will work together to supply energy power to half a million people. These plants do not depend on photovoltaic panels but depends on concentrating solar thermal technology. A series of mirrors will be displayed with a liquid which will redirect the sunlight to a tower heating up a liquid to 750 F. this will produce boiling water, which will spin a steam turbine. Storage of power depends on just a big thermos which can store the hot liquid until the steam is required.

Other similar plants have been constructed in the U.S. Like the Gila Bend Arizona plant with a storage capacity of 280 MW. The plant is expected to be completed this year (2011).

Solar technology is giving us good hope; for the future of renewable energy.

Source: Popular Mechanics.

© Jimmy Eriksson for Renewable Power News, 2011. | Permalink | No comment

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Alternative Power Sources, Photovoltaics, Renewable Power, Solar Power.

In 2010, at Seoul International Design Competition, co-hosted by Designboom, Hot Liner got the Golden Haechi Award because of its original concept, which is based on a unique way of building, designed for those people who have no access to reliable electricity.

The Hot line consists in a flexible solar panel, rigid, a solar cell holder, a battery, a heat coil and a magnetic strip at each end, which can connect one to the other.

It can take any shape, depending on the size of the cooking pots. For a small cooking pot, it is necessary only a liner in a ring shape and for larger ones, 2 liners fit together. The Hot Liner is becoming an off-grid, dual burner stovetop.

When Hot Liner must be recharged, it can be put flat on the ground or hung in a tree to capture the solar energy. This is really a revolutionary type of technology.

Source: Earth Techling and IB Times

© Jimmy Eriksson for Renewable Power News, 2011. | Permalink | No comment

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Alternative Power Sources, Gadgets, Photovoltaics, Renewable Power, Solar Power.

An Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group company entitled Reliance Power LTD is planning to expand its production of alternative energy sources with 1,000 MW in the upcoming 3 years. Currently, the company has approximately 94 MW of wind-based energy in Gujarat (19 MW), Maharashtra (48 MW), Karnataka (9 MW) and Tamil Nadu (18 MW).

A senior official of the company said that they had already identified solar and wind-based capacities. The projects ahead will augment operational capacity with 1,000 MW. In addition, the company has as a vision to produce 10 percent of its energy capacity from alternative sources of energy.

The company is currently focusing on larger new projects producing more than 100 MW.

For the 600 MW of solar energy in Rajasthan that Reliance power is planning to develop will consist of both CSP (concentrated solar power) and SPV (solar photovoltaic plants). In Gujarat and Karnataka wind-energy projects of 400 MW’s has been predicted. These projects are expected to be completed within 3 years.

The company announced that internal sources of finance will be used to fund these projects, as per end of March 31, 2010. Reliance Power had a reserve of Rs 11,669.24 crore.

The company also established an agreement with the Export-Import Bank of U.S. The bank will provide up to $5 billion in finance for purchase of US goods and services for the Group over the next 3 years. This will help the group to support the growth of various renewable energy projects such as a 900 MW of renewable energy technology involving both solar and wind.

Reliance Power’s subsidiary Rajasthan Sun Technique Energy Pvt Ltd has already been given a letter of intent by NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam LTD (NVVN) for the solar thermal project in association with the first phase of the National Solar Mission.

A power purchase agreement will probably soon be signed by NVVN for a 100-MW solar thermal project that Reliance power is going to set up in Rajasthan.

Source: The Hindu Business Line

© Jimmy Eriksson for Renewable Power News, 2011. | Permalink | No comment

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Alternative Power Sources, Renewable Power, Solar Power, Wind Power.

The two companies had started negotiating in the month of October. These negotiations that were being pursued even since have finally bee cemented into an alliance. The partnership agreement has recently been signed by both of them.

Robert Hines, the president of Evolution Solar, declared that the partnership with Solar-Nomics will considerably grow its market position.

Hines stated that their alliance with Solar-Nomics will radically increase the quantity and scope of energy projects that Evolution Solar is going to have the opportunity to undertake.

According to the agreement that has been signed, Solar-Nomics will help Evolution Solar by providing appropriate facilities. It will also help in the construction of global solar energy projects. Solar-Nomics is going do this partly through the participation of students from its associated solar training programme.

Consistent with what the CEO of Solar-Nomics, Malcolm Burleson, said, the alliance between these two companies will give Solar-Nomics the chance to provide a more complete service along with added value to solar clients.

He furthermore declared that it will allow them to put in place an entire 360-degree value proposition for their clients. He added that they are quite excited regarding the new opportunities that will develop.

Evolution Solar will offer solar panels with high efficiency for a number of joint projects at lower prices in order to execute its part of the partnership agreement.

Solar-Nomics distribute solar photovoltaics and generates thermal energy for commercial purposes and government bodies on a worldwide basis.

Source: New Energy World Network

© Jimmy Eriksson for Renewable Power News, 2010. | Permalink | No comment

Add to del.icio.us

Search blogs linking this post with Technorati

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Alternative Power Sources, Solar Power.