- Email: [email protected]
Solar water card today, power tomorrow
NEWS providing key operating data to the operational team and training in operational and maintenance procedures. Combined renewable energy capacity will be 280 kW. MD of AES, Stephen Phillips said, ‘AES will provide patented technology for the operating systems, which is presently being commercialised in the US, by our American subsidiary.’ The contract is one of several major new renewable energy ventures which will see AES achieve a quarterly June 200 revenue of some A$5m (US$2.7m).
the first quarter of 2002, up from virtually nothing the previous year. According to Cleantech co-founder, Nicholas Parker: ‘Revolutionary products being developed… lighter, smarter and stronger; cheaper to manufacture and operate; less carbon-intensive and more energy efficient; and offer greater service utility per unit of material input to enable virtually zero waste and/or emissions.’ He adds: ‘The opportunities for venture investors are significant. There are large and highly disruptive market opportunities emerging in the multi-billion dollar agricultural, manufacturing and transportation sectors, as well as in the fundamental enabling areas of energy and water.’
For more information contact: Stephen Phillips, AES. Tel: +61 8 9470 4633. E-mail: [email protected]
For more information contact: Keith Raab, Cleantech Venture Network. Tel: +1 734 528 2979, Email: [email protected], Web: www.cleantechventure.com
Green Mountain takes USPowerSolutions
Canadian solar mergers Soltek Solar Energy and Powersource Energy Systems will merge this month to form Soltek Powersource Ltd, which, it is claimed, will supply more than half the domestic market for solar energy. The new company will have a staff of 50 at facilities in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary and Barrie, and will be the Canadian distributors for Shell, BP Solar and Siemens Solar. ARISE Technologies is to amalgamate with Intercedent Ventures, a capital pool company. ARISE wants to raise $1.2m in an IPO and reports first six months sales at $497,000 this year, more than double the same period in 2001. It claims to have sold 1,000 systems worldwide. For more information contact : Soltek, 2-745 Vanalman Avenue, Victoria, BC V8Z 3B6, Canada. Tel: +1 250 727 7720. Email: [email protected] Or contact: ARISE Technologies, 321 Shoemaker Street, Kitchener, Ontario N2E 3B3, Canada. Email: [email protected]
Solar for tourism Australian renewable energy company Advanced Energy Systems has won a A$3.7m (US$2m) contract with the Northern Territory Power and Water Authority. This involves design and installation of two solar PV energy supply systems in remote areas, including one of Australia’s most popular outback tourist attractions, Kings Canyon. Installation will take approximately eight months and involve the AES project team working with NT contractors to undertake the work. AES will develop a control system,
September 2002
Green Mountain Energy Co in Texas has acquired services provider USPowerSolutions of Cambridge, Massachusetts, a software developer for energy companies. ‘The technology and talent we will integrate into Green Mountain Energy through this deal will give us more control over key elements of our information supply chain,’ said CIO Roland Icard. ‘Improved relationships with trading partners, billing efficiency and the ability to better use and leverage customer data in our marketing efforts are benefits we will see.’ For more information contact: Eleanor Scott, Green Mountain Energy. Tel: +1 512 691 6316. Email: [email protected]
Solar water card today, power tomorrow WorldWater has shipped the first production models of its AquaCard and AquaMeter systems to Cebu, Philippines, to initiate utility water services. The debit card systems operate directly with WorldWater’s solar water pumping stations. Residents insert cards into AquaMeters which then deliver the requested number of litres of clean drinking water from the nearby solar pumps. The microchip on the card reads when the card needs to be recharged at the bank. Users can purchase up to 1000 litres per charge at a cost-per-litre less than must be paid for water from other sources. Community government use the funds to repay loans used to purchase equipment and installation from WorldWater. ‘The process enables small communities to borrow funds for clean water utility service for
IN BRIEF Canada to give tax breaks Canada, under fire for dragging its feet on ratifying the Kyoto Accord, will use tax breaks to encourage investment in renewable energy and energy conservation projects. In the last federal budget, presented in December 2001, government said it would give C$260m (US$164m) to increase current production from 200 MW wind power to 1,000 MW by 2016. Ratifying Kyoto would oblige Canada to cut its 1990 emissions levels by 6% by 2010. As of 1999, Canada’s emissions were 15% higher than 1990 levels.
Southern Algeria focus Three Algerian energy companies have formed a new firm to specialise in producing and promoting renewable energy sources. State-owned oil and gas company Sonatrach and state electricity and gas company Sonelgaz will each own 45% of the new venture, New Energy Algeria, while privately owned Semouleries Industrielles de la Mitidja (SIM) will have a 10% stake. New Energy Algeria will develop solar and wind energy projects, delivering power to southern Algeria.
Nepal solar project India has completed a R15m ($309,000) project to provide electrical power to Ankhale village in western Nepal and Sarang Danda village in the eastern part of the Himalayan kingdom using solar energy, and is planning more such projects. India’s state-owned Central Electronics executed the project, in coordination with Nepal’s Alternative Energy Promotion Centre and the Energy Sector Assistance Programme. Villagers have played an active role in planning and building the plants and village committees formed for maintenance and upkeep of the plants. India currently plays an important role in infrastructure and water resources projects in Nepal.
Mongolian solar aided by Japan In Japan, the State Secretary of the Infrastructure Ministry Ts Tsengel and the New Energy Development Agency (NEDO) chairman Teruo Hama have signed a memorandum of cooperation to build a solar power station in Mongolia. A group of Japanese and Mongolian experts are to start construction of the 200 kW solar station, with equipment due to leave for Noyon sum (a rural district) of Omnogov aymag. The cost of the station, which will ensure remote rural electricity, is around $3m.
Photovoltaics Bulletin
5
NEWS the people for the first time,’ said Dr Anand Rangarajan, executive VP of WorldWater, which maintains a carrying charge of 10% net of card gross for 10 year contract service charges. ‘After establishing this water utility programme, we will alter the microchip on the AquaCard to make it a PowerCard and supply the same service for rural electricity to be generated by our solar systems,’ explained Quentin T. Kelly, the chairman and CEO of WorldWater. For more details contact: WorldWater Corporation, 55 Routh 31 South, Pennington, NJ 08534, USA. Tel: +1 609 818 0700. Email: [email protected]
Solar trickle chargers Solar Dynamics Inc, the portable solar power system manufacturer for remote, off-grid applications, has launched its SDI-TC line of thin-film solar modules for trickle charging batteries and powering handheld devices. SDI solar modules can be used to ‘trickle charge’ large batteries, as in boats, cars, airplanes, snowmobiles and farm equipment. SDI solar modules can also be used to charge small rechargeable batteries, as well as directly power small handheld devices. Modules are hailresistant, protected by an aluminum frame with a 10-year power warranty. The range (under full sun) is from 2.1 W to 10 W. Wiring options include battery cable clips for direct connection to the battery, 12 V automotive-type plugs to recharge through the cigarette lighter or RV trailer hitch plugs. For more information: Cheryl Stone, Solar Dynamics Inc. Tel: +1 860 658 2345. Email: [email protected]
Inverter for Rome show NKF Electronics in the Netherlands, part of the Draka Comteq group, will present its new OK5 inverter at the PV for Europe Exhibition in Rome in October. The OK5 has an innovative design, high performance and life span of more than 20 years. Galvanic separation between DC and AC conforms to Class II certifications. ‘Plug and play’ connection for AC use makes the OK5 system easy, safe and quick to install. Compact design makes it suitable for BIPV systems. The LV is for parallel PV modules for outdoor use. The MV is for connecting many small strings in parallel mounted both out- or inside. An advantage of both systems is it can be completely safe to install and operate due to the touchsafe, low DC voltage. Both versions are 6
Photovoltaics Bulletin
available in 120 and 230 V AC. Selection between 50 Hz and 60 Hz grids is automatic. For more information contact: Mr H. Luijcks, NKF Electronics, PO Box 415, NL-2800AK Gouda, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 182 592333. Email: [email protected]
Groundfos eyes the replacement market Denmark has proposed replacing 3m rural water supply pump sets in Karnataka with energy efficient, cost-effective solar powered pumps. Launching the SQ Flex Pump, built by Grundfos, the Danish Ambassador to India, Michael Sternberg said he would meet Karnataka Chief Minister S.M. Krishna over the matter. (From January 2003 Grundfos’ new CEO will be process director Lars Aagaard, who takes over from Poul Vesterbæk.) N.K. Ranganath, CEO of Groundfos India, said that the SQ Flex Pump, costing upwards of Rs100,0000 ($2,055) is ideal where electricity is scarce or unavailable. It uses solar or wind energy to offer a reliable solution for water supply with low maintenance cost. ‘Our R&D centre in Denmark has been focusing on quality pumps, which can work under adverse power conditions similar to that prevalent in India,’ he said. Grundfos has invested in a service-training centre and warehouse complex in Chennai. Over 800 pumps have been sold to hotels, hospitals and large industries across India, said Ranganath. A fully fledged manufacturing plant would come up in Chennai by 2004. Grundfos, which sold 250 conventional pumps last year, plans to sell 1,000 pumps including SQ Flex this year. For more information contact: Grundfos A/S , Poul Due Jensens Vej 7, DK-8850 Bjerringbro, Denmark. Tel: +45 8750 1400.
Motorola man for dye cell solar Konarka Konarka Technologies has appointed Bill Beckenbaugh as president/CEO, to leverage new technology commercialisation experience and drive the growth of the company and its evolution from an R&D-based firm to a manufacturer and provider of products. Beckernbaugh has more than 28 years in manufacturing and R&D, including as director of Motorola’s Manufacturing Research Center. In August Zero Stage Capital committed about $500,000 seed capital to Konarka. The
company will attempt to commercialise research technology building on Grätzel’s dyesensitised approach combining nanoscale particles of TiO2 to allow inexpensive, flexible, super-efficient solar panels to be integrated into just about any product, from clothing to roofing tiles, to the plastic chassis of a ride-on lawn mower. For more information contact: Konarka Technologies, 4th Floor, 600 Suffolk Street, Lowell, MA 01854, USA. Tel: +1 978 654 6961. Email: [email protected]
Solar polymer gels After developing new technology polymer gels, Xetal Biotechniks is currently working on applications in a number of areas, from a blood-glucose monitor (auto insulin release), non-invasive nerve impulse/neural and magnetic field sensors, and solar energy cells. Xetal offers a specialist R&D facility for applications or organic polymer gels, in both medical and commercial environments. Its manufacturing capability is at a micro scale and a ‘self powering capacity’, to provide an output without exposure to solar energy. Lab tests have confirmed output from a 30 mm × 3 mm cell to be 1.2 V, 3 mA. On exposure to solar energy the output increases to 3.8 V, 8 mA. Potential applications are within double-glazing, and space exploration. Xetal Biotechniks is seeking investment to take solar to the manufacturing stage, and expertise to improve its development.
For more information contact: Alan Jones, Xetal Biotechniks Ltd, Unit 28 Crynant Business Park, Neath, Port Talbot SA108PA, UK. Tel: +44 1639 751056. Email: [email protected], Web: www.xetalbiotek.co.uk
Spain’s new PV plant Spanish manufacturer Isofoton will receive a grant of 725,999 from the Instituto de Fomento de Andalucía (Institute for Promotion of Andalusia) towards the construction of a new plant for the production of PV cells and modules. Located in the Technological Park of Andalusia, Malaga the plant will be linked to three existing factories – two for PV and one for solar thermal. Construction will start at the end of this year, and will raise production capacity from 35 MW to more than 70 MW. Completion is expected in 2004. The company plans to achieve sales of almost 90m this year, close to double the 48.6m it sold in 2001.
September 2002
the first quarter of 2002, up from virtually nothing the previous year. According to Cleantech co-founder, Nicholas Parker: ‘Revolutionary products being developed… lighter, smarter and stronger; cheaper to manufacture and operate; less carbon-intensive and more energy efficient; and offer greater service utility per unit of material input to enable virtually zero waste and/or emissions.’ He adds: ‘The opportunities for venture investors are significant. There are large and highly disruptive market opportunities emerging in the multi-billion dollar agricultural, manufacturing and transportation sectors, as well as in the fundamental enabling areas of energy and water.’
For more information contact: Stephen Phillips, AES. Tel: +61 8 9470 4633. E-mail: [email protected]
For more information contact: Keith Raab, Cleantech Venture Network. Tel: +1 734 528 2979, Email: [email protected], Web: www.cleantechventure.com
Green Mountain takes USPowerSolutions
Canadian solar mergers Soltek Solar Energy and Powersource Energy Systems will merge this month to form Soltek Powersource Ltd, which, it is claimed, will supply more than half the domestic market for solar energy. The new company will have a staff of 50 at facilities in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary and Barrie, and will be the Canadian distributors for Shell, BP Solar and Siemens Solar. ARISE Technologies is to amalgamate with Intercedent Ventures, a capital pool company. ARISE wants to raise $1.2m in an IPO and reports first six months sales at $497,000 this year, more than double the same period in 2001. It claims to have sold 1,000 systems worldwide. For more information contact : Soltek, 2-745 Vanalman Avenue, Victoria, BC V8Z 3B6, Canada. Tel: +1 250 727 7720. Email: [email protected] Or contact: ARISE Technologies, 321 Shoemaker Street, Kitchener, Ontario N2E 3B3, Canada. Email: [email protected]
Solar for tourism Australian renewable energy company Advanced Energy Systems has won a A$3.7m (US$2m) contract with the Northern Territory Power and Water Authority. This involves design and installation of two solar PV energy supply systems in remote areas, including one of Australia’s most popular outback tourist attractions, Kings Canyon. Installation will take approximately eight months and involve the AES project team working with NT contractors to undertake the work. AES will develop a control system,
September 2002
Green Mountain Energy Co in Texas has acquired services provider USPowerSolutions of Cambridge, Massachusetts, a software developer for energy companies. ‘The technology and talent we will integrate into Green Mountain Energy through this deal will give us more control over key elements of our information supply chain,’ said CIO Roland Icard. ‘Improved relationships with trading partners, billing efficiency and the ability to better use and leverage customer data in our marketing efforts are benefits we will see.’ For more information contact: Eleanor Scott, Green Mountain Energy. Tel: +1 512 691 6316. Email: [email protected]
Solar water card today, power tomorrow WorldWater has shipped the first production models of its AquaCard and AquaMeter systems to Cebu, Philippines, to initiate utility water services. The debit card systems operate directly with WorldWater’s solar water pumping stations. Residents insert cards into AquaMeters which then deliver the requested number of litres of clean drinking water from the nearby solar pumps. The microchip on the card reads when the card needs to be recharged at the bank. Users can purchase up to 1000 litres per charge at a cost-per-litre less than must be paid for water from other sources. Community government use the funds to repay loans used to purchase equipment and installation from WorldWater. ‘The process enables small communities to borrow funds for clean water utility service for
IN BRIEF Canada to give tax breaks Canada, under fire for dragging its feet on ratifying the Kyoto Accord, will use tax breaks to encourage investment in renewable energy and energy conservation projects. In the last federal budget, presented in December 2001, government said it would give C$260m (US$164m) to increase current production from 200 MW wind power to 1,000 MW by 2016. Ratifying Kyoto would oblige Canada to cut its 1990 emissions levels by 6% by 2010. As of 1999, Canada’s emissions were 15% higher than 1990 levels.
Southern Algeria focus Three Algerian energy companies have formed a new firm to specialise in producing and promoting renewable energy sources. State-owned oil and gas company Sonatrach and state electricity and gas company Sonelgaz will each own 45% of the new venture, New Energy Algeria, while privately owned Semouleries Industrielles de la Mitidja (SIM) will have a 10% stake. New Energy Algeria will develop solar and wind energy projects, delivering power to southern Algeria.
Nepal solar project India has completed a R15m ($309,000) project to provide electrical power to Ankhale village in western Nepal and Sarang Danda village in the eastern part of the Himalayan kingdom using solar energy, and is planning more such projects. India’s state-owned Central Electronics executed the project, in coordination with Nepal’s Alternative Energy Promotion Centre and the Energy Sector Assistance Programme. Villagers have played an active role in planning and building the plants and village committees formed for maintenance and upkeep of the plants. India currently plays an important role in infrastructure and water resources projects in Nepal.
Mongolian solar aided by Japan In Japan, the State Secretary of the Infrastructure Ministry Ts Tsengel and the New Energy Development Agency (NEDO) chairman Teruo Hama have signed a memorandum of cooperation to build a solar power station in Mongolia. A group of Japanese and Mongolian experts are to start construction of the 200 kW solar station, with equipment due to leave for Noyon sum (a rural district) of Omnogov aymag. The cost of the station, which will ensure remote rural electricity, is around $3m.
Photovoltaics Bulletin
5
NEWS the people for the first time,’ said Dr Anand Rangarajan, executive VP of WorldWater, which maintains a carrying charge of 10% net of card gross for 10 year contract service charges. ‘After establishing this water utility programme, we will alter the microchip on the AquaCard to make it a PowerCard and supply the same service for rural electricity to be generated by our solar systems,’ explained Quentin T. Kelly, the chairman and CEO of WorldWater. For more details contact: WorldWater Corporation, 55 Routh 31 South, Pennington, NJ 08534, USA. Tel: +1 609 818 0700. Email: [email protected]
Solar trickle chargers Solar Dynamics Inc, the portable solar power system manufacturer for remote, off-grid applications, has launched its SDI-TC line of thin-film solar modules for trickle charging batteries and powering handheld devices. SDI solar modules can be used to ‘trickle charge’ large batteries, as in boats, cars, airplanes, snowmobiles and farm equipment. SDI solar modules can also be used to charge small rechargeable batteries, as well as directly power small handheld devices. Modules are hailresistant, protected by an aluminum frame with a 10-year power warranty. The range (under full sun) is from 2.1 W to 10 W. Wiring options include battery cable clips for direct connection to the battery, 12 V automotive-type plugs to recharge through the cigarette lighter or RV trailer hitch plugs. For more information: Cheryl Stone, Solar Dynamics Inc. Tel: +1 860 658 2345. Email: [email protected]
Inverter for Rome show NKF Electronics in the Netherlands, part of the Draka Comteq group, will present its new OK5 inverter at the PV for Europe Exhibition in Rome in October. The OK5 has an innovative design, high performance and life span of more than 20 years. Galvanic separation between DC and AC conforms to Class II certifications. ‘Plug and play’ connection for AC use makes the OK5 system easy, safe and quick to install. Compact design makes it suitable for BIPV systems. The LV is for parallel PV modules for outdoor use. The MV is for connecting many small strings in parallel mounted both out- or inside. An advantage of both systems is it can be completely safe to install and operate due to the touchsafe, low DC voltage. Both versions are 6
Photovoltaics Bulletin
available in 120 and 230 V AC. Selection between 50 Hz and 60 Hz grids is automatic. For more information contact: Mr H. Luijcks, NKF Electronics, PO Box 415, NL-2800AK Gouda, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 182 592333. Email: [email protected]
Groundfos eyes the replacement market Denmark has proposed replacing 3m rural water supply pump sets in Karnataka with energy efficient, cost-effective solar powered pumps. Launching the SQ Flex Pump, built by Grundfos, the Danish Ambassador to India, Michael Sternberg said he would meet Karnataka Chief Minister S.M. Krishna over the matter. (From January 2003 Grundfos’ new CEO will be process director Lars Aagaard, who takes over from Poul Vesterbæk.) N.K. Ranganath, CEO of Groundfos India, said that the SQ Flex Pump, costing upwards of Rs100,0000 ($2,055) is ideal where electricity is scarce or unavailable. It uses solar or wind energy to offer a reliable solution for water supply with low maintenance cost. ‘Our R&D centre in Denmark has been focusing on quality pumps, which can work under adverse power conditions similar to that prevalent in India,’ he said. Grundfos has invested in a service-training centre and warehouse complex in Chennai. Over 800 pumps have been sold to hotels, hospitals and large industries across India, said Ranganath. A fully fledged manufacturing plant would come up in Chennai by 2004. Grundfos, which sold 250 conventional pumps last year, plans to sell 1,000 pumps including SQ Flex this year. For more information contact: Grundfos A/S , Poul Due Jensens Vej 7, DK-8850 Bjerringbro, Denmark. Tel: +45 8750 1400.
Motorola man for dye cell solar Konarka Konarka Technologies has appointed Bill Beckenbaugh as president/CEO, to leverage new technology commercialisation experience and drive the growth of the company and its evolution from an R&D-based firm to a manufacturer and provider of products. Beckernbaugh has more than 28 years in manufacturing and R&D, including as director of Motorola’s Manufacturing Research Center. In August Zero Stage Capital committed about $500,000 seed capital to Konarka. The
company will attempt to commercialise research technology building on Grätzel’s dyesensitised approach combining nanoscale particles of TiO2 to allow inexpensive, flexible, super-efficient solar panels to be integrated into just about any product, from clothing to roofing tiles, to the plastic chassis of a ride-on lawn mower. For more information contact: Konarka Technologies, 4th Floor, 600 Suffolk Street, Lowell, MA 01854, USA. Tel: +1 978 654 6961. Email: [email protected]
Solar polymer gels After developing new technology polymer gels, Xetal Biotechniks is currently working on applications in a number of areas, from a blood-glucose monitor (auto insulin release), non-invasive nerve impulse/neural and magnetic field sensors, and solar energy cells. Xetal offers a specialist R&D facility for applications or organic polymer gels, in both medical and commercial environments. Its manufacturing capability is at a micro scale and a ‘self powering capacity’, to provide an output without exposure to solar energy. Lab tests have confirmed output from a 30 mm × 3 mm cell to be 1.2 V, 3 mA. On exposure to solar energy the output increases to 3.8 V, 8 mA. Potential applications are within double-glazing, and space exploration. Xetal Biotechniks is seeking investment to take solar to the manufacturing stage, and expertise to improve its development.
For more information contact: Alan Jones, Xetal Biotechniks Ltd, Unit 28 Crynant Business Park, Neath, Port Talbot SA108PA, UK. Tel: +44 1639 751056. Email: [email protected], Web: www.xetalbiotek.co.uk
Spain’s new PV plant Spanish manufacturer Isofoton will receive a grant of 725,999 from the Instituto de Fomento de Andalucía (Institute for Promotion of Andalusia) towards the construction of a new plant for the production of PV cells and modules. Located in the Technological Park of Andalusia, Malaga the plant will be linked to three existing factories – two for PV and one for solar thermal. Construction will start at the end of this year, and will raise production capacity from 35 MW to more than 70 MW. Completion is expected in 2004. The company plans to achieve sales of almost 90m this year, close to double the 48.6m it sold in 2001.
September 2002