Xcel switches on hybrid solar-coal power plant - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal
The mirrors focus the sun’s heat on a line of tubes filled with food-grade mineral oil. The oil is heated to about 575 degrees Fahrenheit, then the heat is transferred, heating water to about 360 degrees, according to Xcel.
The project includes eight rows of mirrors, 500 feet long, covering 6.4 acres, according to Xcel (NYSE: XEL).
The solar-heated water then is transferred to the 49-megawatt power plant’s existing coal-fired boiler, and heated to higher temperatures to produce the steam needed to spin turbine blades that generate electricity. Using solar-heated water cuts the amount of coal needed to produce steam, according to Xcel.
The combined, integrated use of solar power and coal is expected to increase the power plant’s efficiency by up to 5 percent, reduce the use of coal by 900 tons per year, and cut the plant’s carbon dioxide emissions by 2,000 tons per year.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
algal_biofuels_roadmap.pdf BIOMASS PROGRAM this another form of Solar Energy
algal_biofuels_roadmap.pdf (application/pdf Object)
National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap
A technology roadmap resulting from the National Algal Biofuels Workshop
December 9-10, 2008
College Park, Maryland
Workshop and Roadmap sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office of the Biomass Program
Publication Date: May 2010
National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap
A technology roadmap resulting from the National Algal Biofuels Workshop
December 9-10, 2008
College Park, Maryland
Workshop and Roadmap sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office of the Biomass Program
Publication Date: May 2010
17.6% efficiency flexible CIGS solar cell on plastic developed at EMPA - Photovoltaics World
17.6% efficiency flexible CIGS solar cell on plastic developed at EMPA - Photovoltaics World
17.6% efficiency flexible CIGS solar cell on plastic developed at EMPA
http://www.pennenergy.com/etc/medialib/platform-7/pvworld/industry-news.Par.95156.Image.250.171.1.gif
Figure 1: Independently certified measurement of a 17.6% efficiency flexible CIGS solar cell under standard test condition performed at ISE Friburg, Germany.
(June 30, 2010) -- Flexible thin film solar cells on polymer film with a new record efficiency of 17.6% have been developed by the scientists at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology (EMPA). The 17.6% photovoltaic conversion efficiency of the flexible solar cells has been independently certified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg, Germany.
http://www.pennenergy.com/etc/medialib/platform-7/pvworld/industry-news.Par.82965.Image.250.235.1.gif
Figure 2: Quantum efficiency measurement of a 17.6% efficiency flexible CIGS solar cell under standard test condition performed at ISE Friburg, Germany.
Scientists under the leadership of Dr. Ayodhya N. Tiwari at the Laboratory of Thin Film and Photovoltaics, EMPA, Dübendorf, Switzerland (http://www.empa.ch/tfpv) have been developing thin film solar cells based on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) semiconductor material, and the research group, while working at ETH Zurich in 2005, had developed 14.1% efficiency flexible CIGS solar cells on polymer film. Now, collaborating with FLISOM Company (www.flisom.ch), the group's process results in a 17.6% efficiency solar cell.
Development of high efficiency solar cells on plastic film is challenging because most of the polymer films used as substrate lack thermal stability for growth of high electronic and structural quality CIGS solar cell layers at high temperatures. High thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) of polymer causes a large stress in the layers deposited at high substrate temperature resulting in cracks and delamination of the solar cells from the substrate. Doctoral student Adrian Chirila and colleagues, working under the supervision of Dr. Tiwari, have been developing a vacuum evaporation process for growth of high-quality CIGS absorber layers at sufficiently low temperature of about 450C that is suitable for polyimide film as a flexible substrate for roll-to-roll manufacturing.
A large improvement in the efficiency of flexible cell, from a previous record value of 14.1% to a new record of 17.6% was achieved by reducing the optical and electronic losses in the CIGS solar cell structure. The most important factor was the optimisation of the composition gradient of Ga across the CIGS layer thickness and an appropriate incorporation of Na for doping during the final stage of the growth process. Consequently, an optimum band gap grading and larger grain size in CIGS layer resulted in a substantial increase in the efficiency of flexible solar cells. The photovoltaic measurements performed under the standard test condition at ISE Friburg confirmed 17.6% efficiency with Voc = 688 mV, Isc = 34.8 mA/cm2, FF = 73.6%.
Figure 3: Scanning electron microscopic image of the cross-section of a typical CIGS solar cell. http://www.pennenergy.com/etc/medialib/platform-7/pvworld/industry-news.Par.41469.Image.200.172.1.gif
The low temperature process for CIGS deposition offers a unique advantage that the same process and equipment can be used for polymer as well as metal foils. Flexible CIGS solar cells on metal foils with highest efficiency of ca 17.5% are generally grown at high temperatures above 550°C, while lower efficiencies were obtained on polymer films because of lower deposition temperature. The successful development of 17.6% efficiency flexible CIGS solar cell on polymer with a low temperature process has closed the efficiency gap between the solar cells on polymer and metal foils. This solar cell processing can be adapted for roll-to-roll manufacturing of monolithically connected solar modules on polymer films. Lower thermal budget and roll-to-roll manufacturing of high efficiency flexible CIGS solar cells will pave the way for substantial reduction in production cost of next generation of solar modules produced on large industrial scale in future.
Figure 4: Image of flexible CIGS solar cells on lightweight polymer film.
Figure 4: Image of flexible CIGS solar cells on lightweight polymer film.
Preliminary results of the flexible CIGS solar cell development were presented at the recent IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, June 21-25, Honolulu, HI, where Adrian Chirila also received a Student Award for the development of high-efficiency flexible CIGS solar cells and monolithically connected solar modules developed in collaboration with FLISOM Company.
For more information, contact Prof. Dr. Ayodhya N. Tiwari, Head, Laboratory for Thin Films and Photovoltaics (Abt. 130), EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology), Überlandstrasse 129, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; +41-44-8234130 (Direct); ayodhya.tiwari@empa.ch; www.empa.ch/tfpv
Source:
Photovoltaics World
17.6% efficiency flexible CIGS solar cell on plastic developed at EMPA
http://www.pennenergy.com/etc/medialib/platform-7/pvworld/industry-news.Par.95156.Image.250.171.1.gif
Figure 1: Independently certified measurement of a 17.6% efficiency flexible CIGS solar cell under standard test condition performed at ISE Friburg, Germany.
(June 30, 2010) -- Flexible thin film solar cells on polymer film with a new record efficiency of 17.6% have been developed by the scientists at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology (EMPA). The 17.6% photovoltaic conversion efficiency of the flexible solar cells has been independently certified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg, Germany.
http://www.pennenergy.com/etc/medialib/platform-7/pvworld/industry-news.Par.82965.Image.250.235.1.gif
Figure 2: Quantum efficiency measurement of a 17.6% efficiency flexible CIGS solar cell under standard test condition performed at ISE Friburg, Germany.
Scientists under the leadership of Dr. Ayodhya N. Tiwari at the Laboratory of Thin Film and Photovoltaics, EMPA, Dübendorf, Switzerland (http://www.empa.ch/tfpv) have been developing thin film solar cells based on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) semiconductor material, and the research group, while working at ETH Zurich in 2005, had developed 14.1% efficiency flexible CIGS solar cells on polymer film. Now, collaborating with FLISOM Company (www.flisom.ch), the group's process results in a 17.6% efficiency solar cell.
Development of high efficiency solar cells on plastic film is challenging because most of the polymer films used as substrate lack thermal stability for growth of high electronic and structural quality CIGS solar cell layers at high temperatures. High thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) of polymer causes a large stress in the layers deposited at high substrate temperature resulting in cracks and delamination of the solar cells from the substrate. Doctoral student Adrian Chirila and colleagues, working under the supervision of Dr. Tiwari, have been developing a vacuum evaporation process for growth of high-quality CIGS absorber layers at sufficiently low temperature of about 450C that is suitable for polyimide film as a flexible substrate for roll-to-roll manufacturing.
A large improvement in the efficiency of flexible cell, from a previous record value of 14.1% to a new record of 17.6% was achieved by reducing the optical and electronic losses in the CIGS solar cell structure. The most important factor was the optimisation of the composition gradient of Ga across the CIGS layer thickness and an appropriate incorporation of Na for doping during the final stage of the growth process. Consequently, an optimum band gap grading and larger grain size in CIGS layer resulted in a substantial increase in the efficiency of flexible solar cells. The photovoltaic measurements performed under the standard test condition at ISE Friburg confirmed 17.6% efficiency with Voc = 688 mV, Isc = 34.8 mA/cm2, FF = 73.6%.
Figure 3: Scanning electron microscopic image of the cross-section of a typical CIGS solar cell. http://www.pennenergy.com/etc/medialib/platform-7/pvworld/industry-news.Par.41469.Image.200.172.1.gif
The low temperature process for CIGS deposition offers a unique advantage that the same process and equipment can be used for polymer as well as metal foils. Flexible CIGS solar cells on metal foils with highest efficiency of ca 17.5% are generally grown at high temperatures above 550°C, while lower efficiencies were obtained on polymer films because of lower deposition temperature. The successful development of 17.6% efficiency flexible CIGS solar cell on polymer with a low temperature process has closed the efficiency gap between the solar cells on polymer and metal foils. This solar cell processing can be adapted for roll-to-roll manufacturing of monolithically connected solar modules on polymer films. Lower thermal budget and roll-to-roll manufacturing of high efficiency flexible CIGS solar cells will pave the way for substantial reduction in production cost of next generation of solar modules produced on large industrial scale in future.
Figure 4: Image of flexible CIGS solar cells on lightweight polymer film.
Figure 4: Image of flexible CIGS solar cells on lightweight polymer film.
Preliminary results of the flexible CIGS solar cell development were presented at the recent IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, June 21-25, Honolulu, HI, where Adrian Chirila also received a Student Award for the development of high-efficiency flexible CIGS solar cells and monolithically connected solar modules developed in collaboration with FLISOM Company.
For more information, contact Prof. Dr. Ayodhya N. Tiwari, Head, Laboratory for Thin Films and Photovoltaics (Abt. 130), EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology), Überlandstrasse 129, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; +41-44-8234130 (Direct); ayodhya.tiwari@empa.ch; www.empa.ch/tfpv
Source:
Photovoltaics World
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Solar Update - all the latest solar & PV news
"http://www.solarupdate.com/solar-pv-news.php">Solar Update - all the latest solar & PV news
MONITORING 27 SOLAR & PV NEWS SITES... http://www.solarupdate.com/solar-pv-news.php
Solar Industry Mag http://www.solarindustrymag.com/
PV Tech http://www.pv-tech.org/
IPVEA http://www.ipvea.com/
Renewable Energy World http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/
Solar Plaza http://www.solarplaza.com/
Renewable Energy Focus http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com/
Photovoltaik http://www.photovoltaik.eu/
Forbes Solar News http://www.forbes.com/
Thin Film Today http://social.thinfilmtoday.com/
Thin Film Today sen.jpg Solar Energy Directory
Build-It Solar Solar Energy Directory
Solveclimate Blog http://solveclimate.com/
Intersolar DE http://www.intersolar.de/
Global Solar Technology - Industry http://globalsolartechnology.com/
Global Solar Technology - Technology http://globalsolartechnology.com/
Global Solar Technology - Trade Shows http://globalsolartechnology.com/
Renewable Energy Magazine http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/
Pv Society-Breaking http://www.pvsociety.com/
Science Daily http://www.sciencedaily.com/
Google Solar News http://news.google.com/
Google PV News http://news.google.com/
Google Solar Blogsearch http://blogsearch.google.com/
Google PV Blogsearch http://blogsearch.google.com/
CalFinder http://solar.calfinder.com/
Solar Energy News http://www.esolarenergynews.com/
Topix http://www.topix.com/
Solar Energy Directory http://solarenergydirectory.com/
MONITORING 27 SOLAR & PV NEWS SITES... http://www.solarupdate.com/solar-pv-news.php
Solar Industry Mag http://www.solarindustrymag.com/
PV Tech http://www.pv-tech.org/
IPVEA http://www.ipvea.com/
Renewable Energy World http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/
Solar Plaza http://www.solarplaza.com/
Renewable Energy Focus http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com/
Photovoltaik http://www.photovoltaik.eu/
Forbes Solar News http://www.forbes.com/
Thin Film Today http://social.thinfilmtoday.com/
Thin Film Today sen.jpg Solar Energy Directory
Build-It Solar Solar Energy Directory
Solveclimate Blog http://solveclimate.com/
Intersolar DE http://www.intersolar.de/
Global Solar Technology - Industry http://globalsolartechnology.com/
Global Solar Technology - Technology http://globalsolartechnology.com/
Global Solar Technology - Trade Shows http://globalsolartechnology.com/
Renewable Energy Magazine http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/
Pv Society-Breaking http://www.pvsociety.com/
Science Daily http://www.sciencedaily.com/
Google Solar News http://news.google.com/
Google PV News http://news.google.com/
Google Solar Blogsearch http://blogsearch.google.com/
Google PV Blogsearch http://blogsearch.google.com/
CalFinder http://solar.calfinder.com/
Solar Energy News http://www.esolarenergynews.com/
Topix http://www.topix.com/
Solar Energy Directory http://solarenergydirectory.com/
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
domain-b.com : Efforts commence to convert waste CO2 into diesel fuel using solar energy
domain-b.com : Efforts commence to convert waste CO2 into diesel fuel using solar energy
An alliance of industry, academic and government organisations, formed to commercialise technologies that will utilise concentrated solar energy to convert waste carbon dioxide into diesel fuel, will soon be underway.
An alliance of industry, academic and government organisations, formed to commercialise technologies that will utilise concentrated solar energy to convert waste carbon dioxide into diesel fuel, will soon be underway.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah Unveils Guidelines of Schemes under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission
Energetica-India : International Magazine on Renewable & Conventional Power Generation | Transmission | Distribution
The Minister pointed out that merely by distributing solar lanterns in remote areas and to nomadic populations, we can light up over a million homes. Similarly 1 million streetlights can illuminate streets in over one lakh villages. These efforts, he said, will also save the environment as 10 million lanterns can save 50 crore litres of kerosene in a year, which in turn can mitigate a potential subsidy bill of Rs. 1,000 to 1,500 crores in a year. Further, the huge entrepreneurial potentialities thrown up by the rapid adoption of these systems will create thousands of jobs as well as self-employment opportunities
Shri Solanki said that to ramp up capacity of grid-connected solar power generation to 1000 MW within three years – by 2013; an additional 3000 MW by 2017 through the mandatory use of the renewable purchase obligation by utilities backed with a preferential tariff are the programmes on the agenda. He said this capacity can be more than doubled – reaching 10,000 MW installed power by 2017 or more, depending upon the enhanced and enabled international finance and technology transfer. The ambitious target of the Mission for 2022 of 20,000 MW or more, will be dependent on the ‘learning’ of the first two phases, which if successful, could lead to conditions of grid-competitive solar power
The Minister pointed out that merely by distributing solar lanterns in remote areas and to nomadic populations, we can light up over a million homes. Similarly 1 million streetlights can illuminate streets in over one lakh villages. These efforts, he said, will also save the environment as 10 million lanterns can save 50 crore litres of kerosene in a year, which in turn can mitigate a potential subsidy bill of Rs. 1,000 to 1,500 crores in a year. Further, the huge entrepreneurial potentialities thrown up by the rapid adoption of these systems will create thousands of jobs as well as self-employment opportunities
Shri Solanki said that to ramp up capacity of grid-connected solar power generation to 1000 MW within three years – by 2013; an additional 3000 MW by 2017 through the mandatory use of the renewable purchase obligation by utilities backed with a preferential tariff are the programmes on the agenda. He said this capacity can be more than doubled – reaching 10,000 MW installed power by 2017 or more, depending upon the enhanced and enabled international finance and technology transfer. The ambitious target of the Mission for 2022 of 20,000 MW or more, will be dependent on the ‘learning’ of the first two phases, which if successful, could lead to conditions of grid-competitive solar power
SolarPV.TV - Business Of Solar PV In 2010 And BEYOND: Growth, Trends And Hot Spots -SolarPV.TV Monthly Market Update With ISuppli
SolarPV.TV - Business Of Solar PV In 2010 And BEYOND: Growth, Trends And Hot Spots -SolarPV.TV Monthly Market Update With ISuppli
Business of Solar PV in 2010 and BEYOND: Growth, Trends and Hot Spots -SolarPV.TV Monthly Market Update March 2010 with iSuppli
Business of Solar PV in 2010 and BEYOND: Growth, Trends and Hot Spots -SolarPV.TV Monthly Market Update March 2010 with iSuppli
SunPower Sets Solar Cell Efficiency Record at 24.2% | Renewable Energy World
SunPower Sets Solar Cell Efficiency Record at 24.2% | Renewable Energy World
SunPower also announced that has reached a deal with French retailer Casino Group for the supply of 20 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic panels for solar power installations on Casino Group properties in mainland France.
SunPower also announced that has reached a deal with French retailer Casino Group for the supply of 20 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic panels for solar power installations on Casino Group properties in mainland France.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Global Coal price is Rising.
Global Coal price is Rising.docx - Google Docs
Global Coal price is Rising
Saturday, June 19, 2010
GuidelinesJNNSolarMission.pdf (application/pdf Object)
GuidelinesJNNSolarMission.pdf
OFF-GRID AND DECENTRALIZED SOLAR APPLICATIONS
&
ROOFTOP AND OTHER SMALL SOLAR POWER PLANTS
OFF-GRID AND DECENTRALIZED SOLAR APPLICATIONS
&
ROOFTOP AND OTHER SMALL SOLAR POWER PLANTS
Friday, June 18, 2010
FITs: The ecstasy and the agony - Photovoltaics World
FITs: The ecstasy and the agony - Photovoltaics World
 |
| Figure 3: Demand in Germany vs. the rest of the world, 2000-2010 |
Figure 4 highlights demand in 2000, the birth of the solar FiT, along with 2009.
 |
| Figure 4: Global demand, 2000-2009 |
First Solar Continues to Raise the Performance Bar : Greentech Media
First Solar Continues to Raise the Performance Bar : Greentech Media
- 2014 roadmap goal of 52 cents per watt at the panel level -- accomplished through efficiency gains and improvements in throughput
- 14% module efficiency in 2014
- Capex at 65 cents per watt factory capacity.
- It takes only 2.5 hours for the factory to go from glass to module
- 2012 production capacity will be 2 gigawatts
- Energy Payback Time (EPBT) is .65 .8 years (EPBT includes manufacturing and installation). Garabedian challenged the silicon guys to lower their silicon consumption to keep up with the First Solar EPBT.
- Q1 conversion efficiency was 11.1 percent, Q1 manufacturing cost was 81 cents per watt, Q1 revenue was $568 million
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Mass Production of the Innovative Pluto™ Solar Cell Technology
pluto_whitepaper.pdf (application/pdf Object)
Pluto Cell Technology: The Next Generation of Solar
After six years of intensive R&D, the world record holding PERL solar cell design from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) has been successfully commercialized to Suntech’s production lines as Pluto™ solar cells and HiPerforma™ solar modules. Well exceeding efficiencies achieved by conventional screen-printing processes, Pluto technology has been independently verified to reach efficiencies of greater than 19% in mass production.WESTERN WIND AND SOLAR INTEGRATION STUDY May 2010
wwsis_final_report.pdf (application/pdf Object)
WESTERN WIND AND SOLAR INTEGRATION STUDY May 2010
Wind was found to have capacity values of 10-15%;
Solar PV was 25-30%; and CSP with 6 hours of thermal energy storage was 90-95%.
WESTERN WIND AND SOLAR INTEGRATION STUDY May 2010
Wind was found to have capacity values of 10-15%;
Solar PV was 25-30%; and CSP with 6 hours of thermal energy storage was 90-95%.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Milestone: 10 Gigawatts of PV in 2010, Part 2 : Greentech Media
Milestone: 10 Gigawatts of PV in 2010, Part 2 : Greentech Media
Photovoltaic module pricing has made radical progress, as well, moving from $300 per watt in 1956, to $50 per watt in the 1970s, to $10 per watt in the 1990s, to $1 to 1.5 per watt today
Photovoltaic module pricing has made radical progress, as well, moving from $300 per watt in 1956, to $50 per watt in the 1970s, to $10 per watt in the 1990s, to $1 to 1.5 per watt today
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)