An Ecos Energy solar energy project in the heart of Minnesota’s wind farm region will test the potential of co-locating solar and wind turbine arrays to provide a more consistent supply of clean, renewable energy to the local Xcel Energy grid.
Solar and renewable energy industry players are jockeying for position and ramping up project development plans and investment as Japan readies a landmark renewable energy feed-in tariff due to go into effect July 1. MEMC Electronic Materials’ SunEdison announced plans to invest an initial $4.6 billion to build solar power projects in the Land of the Rising Sun and is discussing potential project sites for 1-GW of solar energy capacity with local governments.
2011 US solar power installations soared to a record, growing 140% year-over-year in Q3, and even greater gains are expected in Q4. Yet the US solar power industry, along with its counterparts in Germany and China, is in turmoil as supply-demand imbalances driven by slanted government policies on trade, investment, foreign exchange and clean energy production and usage push an increasing number of growing businesses to, and beyond the brink of financial solvency.
