2012’s top 10 solar PV module suppliers should be familiar names to regular CleanTechnica readers, but can you guess them all, and can you guess the order? As reported in January, Yingli has taken the top spot from Suntech (both of which are Chinese companies). Interestingly, though, Suntech isn’t even … [continued]
Maintaining steady electricity flow in hospitals is literally an issue of life and death. In places where electrical power is unreliable, hospitals are forced to rely on generators, even in the midst of surgery or with patients on ventilators. So what’s a hospital in Haiti supposed to do? Install 1,800 … [continued]
“Micro beads” may be the key to extremely thin (and much cheaper) next generation solar cells. Solar cells 20 times thinner than the solar cells of today are only 5-7 years off, according to the nano-scientists that are currently developing them. The estimate, as of right now, is that the … [continued]
There’s a lot in the news these days about solar manufacturers going bankrupt. This news is often disheartening, and sometimes used to discredit solar technology and the industry itself. Based on a study I just recently completed, I can tell you that the global industry shakeout is just beginning. Many … [continued]
The feel-good news about renewable energy never ceases. A 1.85 megawatt solar farm in Japan’s Wakayama prefecture will donate all profits to local non-profit organizations, Kyocera recently announced. The so-called “social contribution mega power plant project” — a partnership between Kyocera and Ryukoku University — is expected to cost about … [continued]
Oh, naysayers, brace yourselves for this doozy! The World Wildlife Fund has come out with a report that land used for solar panels is an insignificant amount and does not conflict with conservation goals. The WWF goes as far as saying that, if by 2050 100% of the world’s electricity … [continued]
When looking for ways to save money, you might not think to look into home automation. In the past, the term “smart home” conjured up images of expensive home improvements and high-tech gadgets that were only found in celebrity mansions or grand estates. However, with the emergence of new wireless technology and more companies providing … [continued]
Yingli Green Energy is now the biggest global solar company in terms of annual solar panel manufacturing. PV-Tech noted recently that the Chinese photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer leapfrogged past Suntech Power Holdings, who was number one in 2011. Firm fourth quarter demand helped to catapult Yingli to the top spot, … [continued]
What were the top solar power stories of 2012? Here’s my list — chime in below if you think differently or have anything to add. 10. Giant US CSP power plants move along as planned, ready for completion in 2013. While we didn’t see any big CSP power plants … [continued]
When the sun shines, illuminating and inciting photosynthesis for plant life, we also catch it with our solar panels. We catch these rays to use them for our electricity needs, and we catch them to hold for times when the sun is hidden away. When the breeze blows, when wind stirs and incites, … [continued]
