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Optimism Prevails At Solar Power International
in this gloomy recession, solar has been a bit of a bright spot, and nowhere was that more evident than Octo- ber’s Solar Power International.
The conference, which took place Oct. 27–29 in Anaheim, Calif., was the largest in its history, drawing more
than 24,000 attendees from 99 different countries. More
than 900 exhibitors, twice the number the conference drew
in 2008, filled the convention center’s hall.
Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis discussed the Obama administration’s plans to create green
jobs with stimulus bill funding, upgrade the nation’s
energy grid, improve and increase solar career training
options and install solar systems on public housing and
government buildings.
“The U.S. can remain one of the leading importers of
foreign oil, or we can become the leading exporter of renew-
able energy,” she said. “We believe that a
more prosperous future for our energy
economy means making investments in
energy efficiency and clean energy today.”
But the struggles solar energy and other
renewables have ahead of them were also
made clear. Again and again, speakers from
Resch to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to New
Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson emphasized
the need for a stronger industry presence in
Washington, D.C.
soLaR poweR inteRnationaL
“The most important thing people can
do is get involved with the government,”
Kennedy said, in a speech that drew multiple standing ovations. “Instead of being
here in Anaheim, we should all be up
on Capitol Hill, strong-arming these guys
in Congress.”
12-14, in Los Angeles. — Corey Dahl
actor Ed Begley Jr. and secretary of labor Hilda solis (right) greet vendors on
the exhibit hall floor at solar Power international.
Executives at CEO roundtable sessions
said the still-tight credit market hasn’t been
much help to solar businesses. And just about everyone
talked about the tremendous amount of money and influence entrenched energy interests are able to wield against
renewable energy.
But most remained hopeful about solar’s prospects
going forward. As Resch said, “The fights ahead will surpass
anything we’ve seen before, and so will the victories, if we
work hard enough.”
Solar Power International 2010 will take place Oct.
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
unveiled a Solar Bill of Rights
on the opening day of Solar
Power International 2009.
The document outlines the
solar energy rights all consumers are entitled to but,
in most places, may not be
receiving.
“We declare these rights
not on behalf of our companies, but on behalf of our
customers and our country,”
said Rhone Resch, president
of SEIA. “We seek no more
than the freedom to compete on equal terms and no
more than the liberty for consumers to choose the energy
source they think best.”
The full bill of rights
can be found at solarbill
ofrights.com.
Gloves Off:
A Solar Bill of Rights
At the conference’s opening session, Julia Hamm, executive director of the Solar Electric Power Association, and
Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries
Association, hailed all the recent strides solar has made.
More utilities are building solar power plants; financing options and incentives are growing; installations are
growing larger; and political leadership has become more
receptive.
“Solar stands today in the mainstream of America,”
Resch said. “Solar has a bright, clean and exciting future.”
Ascent Demonstrates
14 percent CIGS Cells
Ascent Solar Technologies (ascent
solar.com) of Thornton, Colo.,
announced in October that it has
achieved 14.01 percent efficiency
for its copper indium gallium
selenide (CIGS) cells printed on
flexible plastic substrate, as measured at the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory. Concurrently,
Ascent says it has achieved a peak
efficiency of 11. 7 percent for its
monolithically integrated CIGS
modules manufactured at the
same plant, up from 9. 5 percent
a year ago. The flexible modules
are designed for use in building-integrated systems.
Sharp Achieves Record with Triple-Junction Cell
Sharp Corp. ( sharpusa.com) in October demonstrated a conversion efficiency of
35. 8 percent, a world record for triple-junction solar cells. The new cell uses an indium
gallium arsenide bottom layer with improved crystallinity (the regularity of the atomic
arrangement), bumping efficiency up from 31. 5 percent.
Sharp’s triple-junction cells were developed for use in Japan’s satellite program.
The current research is supported by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology
Development Organization.
