Thin-Film Solar Startup Debuts With $4 Billion in Contracts

From the web via Wired Science
By Alexis Madrigal
September 9, 2009

A startup with a secret recipe for printing cheap solar cells on aluminum foil debuted today, in what could end up a milestone for the industry.

Nanosolar’s technology consists of sandwiches of copper, indium, gallium and selenide (CIGS) that are 100 times thinner than the silicon solar cells that dominate the solar photovoltaics market. Its potential convinced Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page to back the company as angel investors in its early days.

Two big announcements marked its coming out party: The company has $4 billion in contracts and can make money selling its products for $1 per watt of a panel’s capacity. That’s cheap enough to compete with fossil fuels in markets across the world.

[read more...]

Maui County Energy Expo 2009, September 10-11

Maui’s Energy Future – From Concept to Reality
Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa

Highlights of this year’s Expo:

• Outstanding speakers, panel discussions and presentations
• Exhibits featuring state-of-the-art products and technologies
• Presentations by the Maui County Energy Alliance Working Groups
• Models of Reality: Progress Report Panel
• Maui County Energy Alliance Working Groups Reports
• Public Commentary
• Key Considerations in Maui’s Next Steps: Overcoming Island Regulatory Barriers to Clean Energy
• Key Considerations in Maui’s Next Steps:
• Energy Efficiency & Conservation

• Energy Storage & Integration
• Economic Development Implications
• Maui’s Next Steps: Now What?

The Energy Expo 2007 sold out – be sure to register early for this year’s event!

View Conference Program
Two Days—Thursday & Friday: $120—Includes continental breakfast and lunch
Thursday a.m. only: $50—Includes lunch
Thursday p.m.: Free after lunch
Friday: $90—Includes continental breakfast and lunch
*Limited Student Scholarships are available by calling the Office of Economic Development at 270-7710

Optional Pre-Conference Landfill Methane Outreach Program Workshop – Sept 9: $45/person—Includes lunch

For more information:
County of Maui Office of Economic Development
Victor Reyes, Energy Commissioner
Ph. (808) 270-7710 or email economic.development@mauicounty.gov

What Can You Do?

The Maui Weekly, July 30, 2009
by Chris Mentzel

Kihei Energy Consultant Willy Bennett calls his photovoltaic (PV) system the best savings account he ever had. A PV system is a set of blue or black panels that make electricity. His system is 2.5 years old and has made him $3,500 in that time—a 12 percent yearly tax-free return.

Next to the panels on his roof are the two familiar solar hot water panels, which are a much more common sight on Maui. These give him an annual, 50 percent tax-free return. Using the power of the sun for heating water and making electricity are two separate technologies that make great sense for your pocketbook—and for the environment.

The cost for a typical residential PV system is $20,000 to 30,000; solar hot water systems run between $5,000 to 6,000. There are several support and loan programs that reduce the actual out-of-pocket cost to less to half of that—sometimes even to zero.

For businesses, the situation is ideal. Any business with a flat roof and available funding would be crazy not to install solar. For those businesses that lack the funds, there are options to partner with investors.

In the past, obscure tax laws have made it unnecessarily complicated to get the benefits that lawmakers intended. But this has changed. In Hawai‘i, we now have a law that makes the state tax credit refundable. Now it’s even possible for people who don’t have enough earnings to pay taxes to benefit from the state’s commitment to clean energy.

Federal tax incentives have been changed to grants. While some details are still being worked out, this change will reduce the cost of most solar energy systems by 30 percent. (Please consult your licensed tax consultant to evaluate your situation.)

We may never see a better time to make the switch to solar hot water and solar electricity. The financial crisis has helped reduce panel prices, and contractors have more time for these projects. As soon as the new tax laws become common knowledge, everyone will want a system, and prices will rise again.

Special thanks to Willy Bennett, who taught me a lot of this. He is available for consultations at 283-0404.

Chris Mentzel, CEO of Clean Energy Maui LLC, consults with county and state governments in Hawai‘i to secure a quick transition to a clean energy future. He is also the chairman of South Maui Sustainability’s renewable energy committee.

His goal is to end oil use on Maui by 2020. He can be reached through www.CleanEnergyMaui.com or at 214-7678

Solar Hot Water News

Stimulus will buy low-income Hawaii families solar heaters
The Honolulu Advertiser, July 27, 2009
About 420 low-income households in Hawai’i will soon be getting solar water heaters paid for with $3.7 million from the federal economic stimulus program. On Maui people looking for more nformation about the Weatherization Assistance Program can call 808-249-2970. Read full article

Maui’s Fourth Annual Solar Tour Brings Solar to Light

Haiku, HI—On Saturday July 11th, the nonprofit Hawaii PV Coalition will hold Maui’s Fourth Annual “House of the Sun Solar Tour,” inviting Maui residents to tour homes and businesses that save money—and oil—by using solar energy. This event is FREE and open to the public.

During the tour residents will learn how their neighbors are trimming their electric bills, increasing their energy independence and taking steps to address global warming. Tour hours are from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., and will feature properties in North, West, South and Central Maui. Participants register to attend the tour at www.hawaiipvcoalition.org or by calling 808-579-8288.

The tour will feature property owners and experts who will discuss the environmental reasons for going solar as well as the financial savings, including huge state and federal tax credits that are now available. Featured properties include The Cottages at Kulamalu in Kula, Realtors Association of Maui in Kahului and Kihei Lutheran Church in Kihei.

“The State of Hawaii is more dependent on imported fossil fuel than any other state in the nation. It’s time we changed that by using the renewable options available to us,” said Brad Albert, founder of the Hawaii PV Coalition. “This tour gives Maui residents a first-hand look at solar technology — learning what it is, how it works, and how it decreases our dependence on oil.”

The Solar Tour is sponsored by Sharp Electronics, the largest solar panel manufacturer in the world. Other co-sponsors include Maui Electric Company Ltd. (MECO) and DR Horton, Schuler Division – Cottages at Kulamalu.

The Hawaii PV Coalition, a nonprofit organization composed of businesses and homeowners, was formed to actively promote solar electric energy across the Hawaiian Islands. For more information on the tour or to join the Coalition, visit www.hawaiipvcoalition.org.

Berkeley FIRST Financing Initiative for Renewable and Solar Technology

Berkeley FIRST is a solar financing program operating in the City of Berkeley. It provides property owners an opportunity to borrow money from the City’s Sustainable Energy Financing District to install solar photovoltaic electric systems and allow the cost to be repaid over 20 years through an annual special tax on their property tax bill. The tax will only be paid by Berkeley property owners who voluntarily participate in the Berkeley FIRST program.

Berkeley FIRST is intended to solve many of the financial hurdles facing property owners who want to install solar systems. To calculate the cost benefit of the Berkeley FIRST program for your household energy needs please see the UC Berkeley RAEL calculator on the UC Berkeley website. The advantages of the Berkeley FIRST program are:

* There is relatively little up-front cost to the property owner.
* The cost for the solar system is paid for through a special tax on the property, and is spread over 20 years.
* The financing costs are comparable to a traditional equity line or mortgage.
* Since the solar system stays with the property, so does the tax obligation—if the property is transferred or sold, the new owners will pay the remaining tax obligation. Read more.

Clean Energy For Maui

Click here to see Chris Mentzel’s slide show for the December 12, 2008 meeting of the Renewable Energy Committee. The summary addresses the questions:

• Why do we need renewables?
• How can we become a sustainable island?
• PV and wind for homeowners.
• Questions & Answers.

Click each slide to advance to the next one.

Solar Hot Water