Science & Technology Buzz up!

Scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology have created the world’s first 3-D photovoltaic solar system that actually works underground. Using optical fibers common to the telecommunications industry, researchers

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seeded them with zinc oxide nanostructures–much like the white stuff found on a lifeguard nose. Those nanostructures were then coated with a dye-sensitized material that converts light into electricity. The electricity is then captured using a liquid electrolyte surrounding the nanostructures. So only the very tip of the cable needs to be exposed to actual sunlight. 3-D Solar Cell Works  This 3-D system can be easily concealed, leaving rooftops panel-free. It gives architects and designers new options for incorporating PVs into buildings.

For each cable is only 3-times the width of a human hair. “This will really provide some new options for photovoltaic systems,” Dr Zhong Wang of the Georgia Institute of Technology said. “We could eliminate the aesthetic issues of PV arrays on building.”  Once the light reaches the end of the fiber, it bounces back, actually doubling the chances for absorption. The result is up to six times more efficient than planar zinc oxide cells with the same surface area. The fibers can be cut to any length: a 10-centimeter fiber results in about 0.5 volts. Though the scientists have only reached an efficiency of 3.3 percent but hope to soon reach 8 percent. One improvement is collecting the charge with a titanium oxide surface coating. Of course, that’s a bit short from the average 12 percent that much more expensive silicon-based solar panels get.

“No one wants to buy a big, nice, fancy car with a huge solar panel on the roof,” says Wang. Dye-sensitized solar cells use a photochemical system for generating electricity. While they are cheap to manufacture, flexible and mechanically robust, they have a lower conversion efficiency than that of silicon-based cells. Producing highly-efficient panels requires temperatures of several hundred degrees whereas these optical fibers require the same temperature as your morning Starbucks. “This is a different way to gather power from the sun,” Wang said. “To meet our energy needs, we need all the approaches we can get.” I couldn’t agree more.

Source: ABC Science

Perhaps you enjoy power outages and giving your vacation money to the utility company. Hey, its your money

By KRISTA NORSWORTHY

Cronkite News Service

TEMPE (Monday, Oct. 5) _ Solar power might seem

futuristic, but

thousands of panels supplying electricity from atop at Arizona State University buildings show the technology is ready to help the state add jobs and move toward energy independence, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., said Monday.

“When I’m flying in an airplane, I look down and see all these flat surfaces below me and think one day I’ll look down and be excited to see solar,” Giffords said.

Giffords visited two parking garage rooftops sporting solar panels set up under a 15-year agreement with CarbonFree Technology. The university can purchase electricity, which for now accounts for a fraction of its overall use, at a fixed rate.

In all, CarbonFree Technology has installed about 9,000 solar panels at ASU. Giffords touted the installations as Arizona’s largest solar plant not owned by a utility.

“I think it’s important to talk to supporters and developers of solar projects like these ones at ASU, to understand where the industry has been and better understand how we take projects like these and replicate them around the state and country and build on them,” she said.

Giffords said the ASU project demonstrates the potential of solar energy to boost the economy.

“We could take all of these laid off workers and convert them to power America,” she said.

Giffords, a member of the House of Science and Technology Committee, has authored legislation dubbed the Solar Technology Roadmap Act. The bill, which has won endorsement from a subcommittee, would require the U.S. Department of Energy to appoint a group of experts to create a long-term plan to guide solar energy research and commercial uses.

She said one of the biggest hurdles is the perception that solar energy is expensive, unreliable and only suitable for limited applications.

“A lot of my colleagues and people I talk to about solar energy say it’s not serious energy, but we see with institutions like this that show solar energy can contribute seriously to our state and country,” Giffords said.

Bonny Bentzin, ASU’s director of campus sustainability practices, said being able to install solar panels on structures is an advantage for the university.

“Before the panels were built this was just an average parking garage,” Bentzin said. “Now it’s a place with solar panels and a parking garage.”

Solar Basics

Q: What is solar energy?
A: A solar energy system creates usable power from sunshine. There are two basic kinds of systems:
1.Photovoltaic or PV uses sunlight to generate electricity. It’s the same technology found on pocket calculators, just on a larger scale. PV systems can be designed to generate the majority of the electricity used in your home, or just a portion of it.
2.Thermal solar uses sunlight to heat water. Typically this is used for a home’s hot-water supply. A well-designed thermal system can be extremely effective, and provide most of the hot water used in your home.

Q: Does solar work only on sunny days?
A: Solar systems work even when it’s cloudy. Naturally, cloud cover reduces the amount of solar radiation reaching the panels, but the system will produce some electricity and/or heat on all but the most overcast days.

Solar Benefits

Q How does solar help the environment?
A: Many say fossil fuels are a leading cause of global warming and air pollution. Solar energy reduces the amount of fossil fuel that is burned, thus reducing the pollutants and CO² that get into the atmosphere. Sharp and Schüco solar energy systems have the added benefits of very high efficiency, durability, and service life – they’re engineered for sustainability. This means fewer replacements and repairs, saving even more energy and precious resources.

Q: How does a solar energy system benefit me personally?
A: In many ways:
• It reduces your energy bill, and the utility will credit back any extra electricity you generate. Federal, state, and utility financial incentives are available. The basic ones being the California Solar Initiative Rebate (CSI Rebate) and the 30% Federal tax credit.
• It adds to the value of your home.
• You gain energy independence.
• Perhaps most importantly, it’s a good investment in a sustainable future for yourself and your loved ones.

Q: How can solar improve national security?
A: Currently, the US depends on fossil fuels, especially oil, from potentially unstable or unfriendly countries. These supplies are vulnerable to political upheaval, trade disputes, embargoes, and other disruptions.
In 1973 we imported only about 34% of our oil, and yet the 1973 oil embargo was a serious blow to the economy. Today we import over 53%, and are more vulnerable every year. Solar energy can help reduce this dependency, making our economy, our nation, and your family more secure.

Q: How can solar help the economy?
A: Right now the US has to import oil and natural gas to cover our energy needs. The cost adds up to many billions of dollars, and all of that money leaves the country. But solar energy is generated locally. The energy dollars stay at home, creating economic growth and benefiting your community.

Solar Electricity

Q: How does solar electricity work?
A: This technology is called “photovoltaic” or PV. Sunlight hitting silicon cells in a module generates a DC current. This current goes to an inverter in the house, which turns it into household AC. Grid-connected systems are linked to the regular electrical grid, and reduce the amount of current the house draws from the power company. Off-grid PV systems are completely independent of the power company. They require extensive battery backup and are more complex to install and run. Schüco specializes in grid connected systems, since these are easier to use for most people.

Q: Will a solar PV system give me electricity if there’s a power outage?
A: That depends on the kind of system you have. PV systems with battery back-up will provide electricity if the power goes out.

Q: Can a PV system give a dangerous shock?
A: A properly installed solar panel cannot give you a shock, and our mounting system keeps wires safely bundled and out of the way. An improperly installed or damaged module can give a shock. However, Schüco certified installers work to the same electrical code as any qualified electrician, so there is minimal risk.

Solar Hot Water

Q: How do solar thermal systems work?
A: Fluid running through a solar collector is heated by sunlight hitting the collector. This heated fluid circulates through a storage tank, where it transfers its heat to the water in the tank. The storage tank is part of the regular water supply and is installed upstream of the conventional water heater. The solar fluid never touches the water. Schüco’s unique third-generation system design handles this process very efficiently, for quieter operation, better output, peace of mind, and much less maintenance than conventional thermal systems.

Q: Will a solar thermal system give me hot water if there’s a power outage?
A: The pump that circulates the solar fluid runs off electricity, so in a power outage it won’t operate, unless you have a standalone system with battery backup.

Q: I’ve seen houses with old solar collectors that are full of unsightly algae. Can that be avoided?
A: Yes. The technology has made huge strides since then. For example, our solar collectors use propylene glycol instead of water. Propylene glycol is a more efficient heat transfer agent, it doesn’t freeze, and algae won’t grow in it. It is safe and nontoxic. And of course, the collectors look great on your roof.

Q: Can a thermal solar system leak?
A: Theoretically anything can leak, but it is extremely unlikely that a properly-installed Schüco
solar system ever will. We have one of the world’s best-equipped test facilities, and test our products more rigorously than any standard requires.

Solar and You

Q: Is solar power for everybody? What if I live up north?
A: Anybody who has a good site can benefit from a solar energy system. Once you get it installed, the power is free. And solar isn’t just for the sunny south – solar works in all areas with sunlight. Schüco systems are in use around the world, and we have long experience with all kinds of weather extremes. Our systems work efficiently in pretty much any climate.

Q: What’s the best place to mount solar panels?
A: Direct sunlight is the most important factor. For most people that means mounting the system on the roof, so we’ve devoted much time and effort to creating the best rooftop mounting system in the industry. It fits on shingle or pitched roofs and has many engineering features that make it intrinsically sturdy.

Q: What regular maintenance do I need to do?
A: With a Schüco system, very little. PV systems are inherently very low-maintenance, requiring the system owner only to wash the solar modules down with water when they get dirty so light can get through, and our special mounting hardware greatly reduces the need for periodic bolt-tightening. Conventional thermal solar systems require regular venting, but our third generation solar thermal systems don’t even need that. The circulation pump and valves are mechanical, so they will need replacing eventually, but here again, our systems are self lubricating so the service intervals are longer than with our competitors.

Q: How long will my system last?
A: If properly installed, it should last many years. Ours last a very long time. In fact, we guarantee the performance of our PV modules for 25 years, and our thermal collectors for 10 years.

Q: What technical knowledge do I need?
A: With a Schüco system, basically none. We’re always glad to supply any technical information you might want, but you definitely don’t have to become an expert. Most people enjoy monitoring their system to see what it’s doing, and we provide very convenient ways of doing this, but the fact is, our systems run just fine all by themselves.

Q: Can I install solar myself?
A: It is best to go with an experienced installer. Your certified Schüco installer/dealer can help you determine the right system for you, and make sure everything works properly. Schüco dealers are certified for our systems, assuring you of expert installation and service.

Q: How will a solar energy system affect my home’s resale value?
A: Studies show that most Americans would pay more for a home with a solar system already installed. And of course, as energy costs rise, anything that lowers those costs will add to a home’s value. In addition, our systems are designed specifically to be aesthetically pleasing – they look good on a roof.

As Andrew Black reported to the American Solar Energy Society (in 2004):

These monetary benefits are financially quantifiable. A solar electric system increases home value by $20,000 for each $1,000 in annual reduced operating costs, according to The Appraisal Institute. A solar electric system compares very favorably with other home improvements in percentage of cost recovered. Often, a solar system can recover much more than 100% of its cost, and this percentage actually increases over time as electric rates rise.
"

Q: Are solar energy systems vulnerable to weather?
A: Our modules and collectors have tempered safety glass set deep into heavy-duty frames, and our mounting system is extraordinarily robust. If properly installed, our systems are at least as strong as the roof they are mounted on, if not stronger.

Solar Savings

Q: How much does a solar energy system cost?
A: It is impossible to give a simple answer, since this depends on system capacity, home layout, and other variables. Certainly the cost has gone down dramatically in recent years, and now there are many tax breaks, electricity buy-back programs, and incentives. Please contact a local certified Schüco dealer for pricing and more information.

Q: How does electricity buyback work?
A: This is often called “net metering” and is available from many utility companies. If you generate more electricity than you use, the excess goes back to your utility company, spinning the meter backward and giving you a credit for the electricity your PV system generated.

Q: Where can I find out about federal and state incentives?
A: The US Department of Energy (www.dsireusa.org) has a database of federal and state

incentives for renewable energy.

So Why Go Solar?

Because you’ll lower your utility bills, gain energy independence, and help create a better
environment and a better future. It’s easy to do, easy to live with, and it pays for itself.

Building Sustainability with Schüco Solar Energy Systems
Schüco is one of the world’s leading providers of solar energy systems, offering low-maintenance, high-performance systems engineered for long life and designed to fit today’s lifestyles.
Our fully integrated photovoltaic systems generate electricity from sunlight.
Our thermal systems turn sunlight into hot water.
Our mounting systems are strong and safe, and fit any roof.

Schüco technologies are building sustainability on homes from coast to coast. Your certified Schüco dealer can answer any other questions you have, and help select the right system for your home. Contact him or her, or go online. www.schuco-usa.com

Let’s build sustainability
Turn your home into a producer of clean, renewable solar energy. You’ll become part of the solution

to global warming. You’ll also gain independence from rising energy costs. Your certified Schüco dealer is a highly qualified professional who can answer all of your questions about solar, and install a system that perfectly fits your home and lifestyle. Whether you choose photovoltaic, thermal, or both, you’ll enjoy dependable renewable energy, lower utility bills, and personal satisfaction for many years to come. Contact your dealer today.

The Brilliant Financial Benefits of Going Solar

Here’s what you can expect when you choose to go solar:

Savings every month. A Sharp solar electric system powers your home so you can use considerably less electricity from the public utility.

Solar gives you protection against electricity rate hikes. Imagine that you had been able to lock in automobile gas prices in 2004. You’d be paying less than $2 a gallon not only today, but also for decades to come. With every gas price increase, you’d be saving even more money. That’s exactly what you’re doing with the cost of electricity when you install a solar electric system.

Because solar installation is a fixed cost, savings increase as utility rates rise. Essentially, you’re building in a hedge against future rate increases. And rising utility rates are definitely something you can count on, especially considering that they’ve gone up an average of 5% per year for the past 30 years. In 2006, some states saw the highest tier residential rates jump as much as 55% in just one year.

Solar increases the value of your home. A solar electric system can increase a home’s value by $20,000 for every $1,000 in reduced annual operating costs.

Solar offers you energy independence. By switching to solar electricity, we can help alleviate our overdependence on foreign sources. Solar electricity is used where it is made, so there are no transportation or delivery costs. Solar electricity’s price stability is also independent of the effects of natural disasters, foreign political instability or trade disputes. The supply chain extends simply from the sun to your roof.

Your utility meter spins backward with Net Metering. With net metering, your electric meter tracks your net power usage, spinning forward when you use electricity from the utility, and backward when your system is generating more electricity than you need. Your local utility or www.dsireusa.org can fill you in on specific details of the net metering program in your area.

Solar Comes With Big Financial Incentives

Federal tax credits and public utility rebates when available can help pay for a substantial percentage of your system and installation. Depending on where you live, there may be additional incentives available from your state government. Your independent Sharp certified installer can explain what savings are available to make your system even more affordable. For rebate information in your state, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency at www.dsireusa.org.

Home value increases

Does installing solar increase property value?

Yes! Installing solar will increase your home’s value in two ways—by reducing your annual operating costs and by increasing your home equity. According to a leading mortgage provider, saving electricity adds significant value to most homes.* They point to a study showing that for every $1,000 saved in annual energy costs, $20,000 is added to the value of the home.**

To illustrate, if you spent $23,000 on a solar system today, a system this size might save $1,200 in energy expenses in year one. According to the study, your solar system will immediately add over $24,000 to the resale value of the home. That increased resale value is worth more than the cost of the solar system.

Millions of homeowners worldwide have gone solar with the knowledge that if they sell their solar home, they will cash in on the increased value of their property.

Property tax benefits of purchasing solar

Many states allow you to exclude the cost of a solar electric system from your property taxes as long as you don’t sell your home. In other words, while the value of your house will go up with the installation of a solar electric system, this addition can be excluded from your property’s assessed value. This makes solar home improvement one of the best home renovation projects from a financial benefits perspective. Please visit this site for the most updated information regarding tax benefits in your state.

Solar homes sell faster

Solar homes have great resale value. The housing market overall remains slow, but according to the LA Times, buyers are seeking affordable, solar powered homes. Homes that have installed a residential solar system are beginning to outsell homes with traditional electrical systems because of the increased value, environmental benefits, and tremendous savings potential.

Solar tax credits and rebates

In California, a combination of solar incentives can cover up to 40% of the cost of your residential solar system. In 2009, the federal solar tax credit will cover 30% of the total cost of your solar system and the California Solar Initiative (CSI rebate) saves you an additional 10%. To read more, see solar rebates and solar tax credits.

Arizona-based First Solar announced yesterday plans to construct the world’s largest solar plant in Ordos, China. When completed in 2019, the 2,000 megawatt Ordos solar farm will produce enough power to provide for 3 million homes. It’s a development that makes China, the second largest energy-using country, one of the biggest players in the solar energy game.

It seems like a new “world’s largest solar plant” or “world’s most efficient solar cell” is being announced every day, but the Ordos solar farm is an especially big deal–the 25 square mile, multi-billion dollar plant makes other solar projects look tiny by comparison. Other major projects in the works, such as First Solar’s 550-megawatt project in California and the US Army’s 500 megawatt solar thermal project in the Mojave Desert, don’t even come close to matching Ordos.

Still, renewable energy projects get scrapped or pared down all the time. That means it will be worth keeping an eye on Ordos, which is scheduled to begin the first of its four phases of construction in 2010, to see if it is actually completed. If it is, the country that is now the world’s biggest polluter could easily also become the world’s biggest renewable energy consumer.

That is the science fiction sounding goal of a new research group in Japan representing 16 companies. The group will during the next four years focus on how to send electricity without cables in the form of microwaves.

“It sounds like a science fiction cartoon, but solar power generation in space may be a significant alternative energy source in the century ahead as fossil fuel disappears,” says Kensuke Kanekiyo, Managing Director of the Institute of Energy Economics, a government research body, to Bloomberg.net.

Japan hopes to have the four square kilometer solar panel up and running in three decades. The project has – so far – a budget of 21 billion dollars.

Here’s what I mean.

In southern California, history points out a 7% increase in utility costs from 1972 to today.  We can project this data into the future and assume the same 7% rate of increase for the next 40 years.

But this would be a mistake.  Assuming such conservative numbers would be irresponsible for folks wanting realistic numbers in planning for wealth creation and retirement.

Let’s look at reality.

China, India, and other Asian countries are sick of living in the dirt. They want what we have: wealth, industry, power.  China’s growing need for fuels puts them at loggerheads with established industrialized nations in the fuel market. China especially has money reserves and leverage.

In the 1950′s the world power consumption to world population was even at a 1:1 ratio. Back then power was plentiful and inexpensive. Today the power consumption to population ratio is 6:1.  Meaning the cost of energy cannot escape the brutal contortions of supply and demand.  With 2 billion new Asian energy consumers with ever bigger appetites, we can expect spiking energy costs from now on.

Add to this equation the declining value of the dollar.  Expert economists have predicted inflation to the tune of 6 – 9% in the next year to three years.  This especially effects commodities like fuel/energy.

Insult to injury would be some form of Cap and Trade legislation (which passed the House and will go to the Senate this fall.)  A Cap and Trade tax would cap CO2 emissions, forcing utilities and manufacturers to buy CO2 credits from other companies in a commodities market.  Thus doubling the price of energy twice in a decade.

Back to brass tacks:

As far as utility bills are concerned, an irritating 7% increase year by year is the best news we could expect for a long while.  Not to be a party-pooper but at my job I have met several people who are enslaved to their utility bills for one reason or another.  My fear is the same will be true for the rest of us very soon.  If we struggle to keep the lights on how can we put money away into investments that will ensure our needs are met in retirement?

Let’s get cheery again.

What if there was a way to shield ourselves from the rising cost of energy and divert our moneys to a place of better return?  There is.  The silver lining is actually a silica lining, in the form of PV solar panels.  A modest PV system can reduce a home’s utility consumption by 50% while reducing the utility bill up to 80%. This is because utility companies typically sell energy on a sliding scale, a tier system.

The utilities present customers with a baseline of allowable kilowatt hours per month.  This is the first tier.  The formula determining a baseline is deliberately designed to be inadequate, thus ensuring higher energy rates per household.  Larger families are hit the hardest.

To correct this, a PV Solar system specifically tailored to a certain household could harness Sun energy and provide the needs for anything past the baseline tier.  Depending on the customer this could save $100 a month or more.  What could you do with an extra $100 a month?  In 5 years the conservative figure for total savings would be $7,383.95. The conservative total savings in 20 years would be $52,638.21.

Who couldn’t use an extra $52,000 to help fund an IRA or annuity or any other responsible investment?  Talk to your local financial planner to see what sort of return could be had with $52,000 over 20 years.  You will like what you see.  A PV Solar System could be the vehicle you need to free up cash flow.

By Nathan Olivarez-Giles

Everyone knows solar power can heat homes and generate electricity.

But on a rooftop in Downey, Southern California Gas Co. engineers are using solar mirrors to cool down their offices.

Engineers are testing two technologies that use mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto pipes with water running through them. The heated water powers a thermal process in a chiller that cools the cold water used in air conditioning units.

“When we tell people we heat water up only to cool it down, they don’t get it at first,” said David Berokoff, a technology development manager at SoCal Gas. “But all this technology has been around for a while. We’re just trying to bring it together so we can get it out to our customers as soon as possible.”

The initiative is the latest in a move by SoCal Gas and its parent, Sempra Energy, to wean businesses off gas and push them to use more solar power. For businesses, the technologies could mean substantial savings.

Beyond the potential environmental benefits — the sun is a nonpolluting, renewable source of energy — the solar systems undergoing tests could help businesses slash air conditioning costs as much as 60%, Berokoff said.

The effort may seem counterproductive for one of the nation’s largest natural gas distributors, but it’s part of a broader move by the company to reposition itself as a renewable energy provider, SoCal Gas officials said. Sempra, which also owns San Diego Gas and Electric Co., expects to spend $10 million this year researching and developing “green technologies.”

The research project is only 4 months old and solar-powered cooling probably won’t reach the gas company’s customers for another year or two, but the gas company is already wooing businesses to the rooftop of its Downey research facility.

“When they make an investment in this sort of technology, they are in fact keeping their company viable and making sure they are changing as their customers’ needs change,” said Bob Phillips, a spokesman for Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Southern California, which is watching the tests to see whether such technologies would make sense for several of its bottling plants. “It’s a very long-term view, but it’s the right view to have.”

The gas company has been checking out competing solar-thermal cooling technologies from two companies to see which would work best on the roofs of warehouses, manufacturing plants and other commercial buildings.

The research could cut the cost of the systems and bring them to market sooner, Berokoff said.

The rooftop prototype systems, which include the mirrors, pipes and computer-automated solar trackers, cost about $200,000 each — about the same cost as the entire traditional air conditioning system installed in the 45,000-square-foot Downey building, he said.

David Berokoff, a technology development manager at Southern California Gas Co.,
The developers hope to slash that price by at least half before it reaches commercial customers.

SoCal Gas is comparing systems developed by Sopogy Inc., based in Honolulu, and HelioDynamics of Britain. The testing is expected to run until the middle or end of next year, he said, after which SoCal Gas plans to compare the results with similar mirror-based systems from other manufacturers.

Sopogy’s and HelioDynamics’ systems are similar: Both use mirrors to aim the sun’s rays at water pipes, and when sun isn’t available to heat the water — at night, for example — both rely on gas as a backup.

The differences between the two systems lie in the shape and size of the mirrors used and in the placement of the water pipes.

Sopogy uses several 12-foot mirrors that curve upward, reflecting sunshine onto a pipe running just above the center of each mirror. HelioDynamics uses slabs of small, flat mirrors that reflect the sun’s rays onto a single pipe above them.

Both systems use computer-automated trackers to tilt the mirrors throughout the day as the sun moves across the sky.

The hot water in both systems is heated to temperatures just under 200 degrees and collected in a storage tank. Then it goes through an absorption chiller that cools the cold water used in the building’s fan units.

Non-solar systems use gas or electricity to heat the hot water before it goes through the chiller.

Sempra likes that the two solar systems can work alongside existing gas and electric systems, said Hal Snyder, vice president of customer solutions for SoCal Gas.

“People want renewable sources of energy, but we don’t think people want a switch that just happens overnight,” Snyder said. “By using gas or electricity as a backup, we’re not having to replace our infrastructure, and our customers know they won’t have to get into something experimental.”

The demonstrations are also helping developers of the technology, said Al Yuen, Sopogy’s director of corporate development.

“The gas company is giving us a stage to demonstrate what we can do for their customers,” Yuen said. “They bought our mirrors, bought our system, and now they’re using it and showing it off. It helps tremendously.”

Another benefit for the developers, Yuen said, is seeing the systems in daily use, up against competitors’ — with all the information shared.

This information from the project will be a deciding factor for most SoCal Gas and Sempra customers when the technology hits the market, Coca-Cola’s Phillips said.

“It’s easier to take that plunge when you have an example of the technology in place and you can point to numbers and say, ‘That’s effective, that saves money, that’s worth doing,’ ” he said.

nathan.olivarezgiles@ latimes.com

The global PV industry has seen considerable development over the past few years due to various factors, such as government incentives for solar energy, international efforts to boost research and development activities, increasing environmental concern and looming emissions regulations. With the same trends expected to continue in the near future, the cumulative installed PV capacity worldwide will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 28% in 2009-2013, according to new research report from RNCOS. The report, titled “Global Photovoltaic Market Forecast to 2013,” projects rapid growth in all solar PV industry applications, including on-grid, off-grid and consumer applications. The current PV application base is dominated by the grid-connected sector, which represents roughly 85% of the market. However, this segment will lose its share to off-grid applications, according to RNCOS. Due to its immense potential, rural electrification, in particular, will experience considerable growth. The future development of the PV market will vary by region, the report says. Although markets such as the U.S., Japan and Europe will dominate the global market through 2013, much faster development is expected to take place in other regions, especially in South Asia and China.

Solar Power (and solar promotions) are popping up everywhere and just recently AT&T Park partnered with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and Sharp to bring solar power into the home of the San Francisco Giants. Along with other promotions around the city, PG&E is trying to create awareness that it generates over 50% of it’s power from renewable energy sources including wind, solar, biomass, hydro, and nuclear.

At AT&T Park there are several billboard style ads in the stadium hallways advertising Sharp solar panels as the type being used around the stadium, and there is one large bright green billboard up near the scoreboard that actually has solar panels built into it as shown below.

In order to see any of the real solar panels that actually produce power for the stadium you will have to travel to the South Eastern side of the stadium (near the water fountains) and look over the railing. There you will find several awning style covers with built in solar panels. PG&E has said that nearly 600 panels have been installed and that the electricity from the panels is being sold to residents and businesses in the City. These panels from Sharp and PG&E are the first to ever be installed at a major league baseball stadium anywhere.