TOKYO, Mar. 27, 2009 (Kyodo News International) -- Toshiba Corp. (OOTC:TOSYY) is considering procuring solar panels from Sharp Corp. and other manufacturers to make a full-scale entry into the photovoltaic generation business to cover losses from its struggling semiconductor operations, informed sources said Friday.
Given expected growth in demand for such power generation to combat global warming, Toshiba plans to offer solar power (OTCBB:SOPW) generation systems for use at large-scale facilities such as factories and buildings, combining its existing technology with solar panels procured from other firms, the sources said.
The Japanese electronics firm produces no solar panels, but has strength in technology related to distributing electricity and accumulator batteries.
The deal would be also beneficial for Sharp, one of the world's largest solar panel makers, as it aims to nurture its solar-panel business into one of its key profit sources as its other operations, like liquid crystal display TVs and mobile phones, took a big blow from the global economic slump, the sources said.
Toshiba said in a statement Friday that it is considering various companies as prospective suppliers of solar panels. Sharp said in a separate statement the company is studying forging a strategic partnership on solar batteries with many firms.
Both companies denied having made any decision on the solar-power business.
(Source: iStockAnalyst )
Monday, March 30, 2009
Solar panels coming to new San Joaquin County ag center
Solar panels will be added to the county’s new agricultural center in June, likely making it the first San Joaquin County government facility to rely in part on energy from the Sun.
The ag center will receive about 15 percent of its power from 520 rooftop solar panels, officials said. The $664,226 project is largely grant-funded, with energy savings of $1.8 million over 30 to 40 years; the plan is to eventually increase to 100 percent solar.
Depending on when the project is finished, the ag center will become either the first or second county building to be solar-powered. Downtown, solar panels will also be installed on the county’s new administration building, though those panels will provide only about 5 percent of that facility’s energy needs.
“There are some really good environmental benefits by doing these kinds of projects,” said Gabe Karam, the county’s director of capital projects.
Read Friday’s Record for more on this story by staff writer Alex Breitler.
The ag center will receive about 15 percent of its power from 520 rooftop solar panels, officials said. The $664,226 project is largely grant-funded, with energy savings of $1.8 million over 30 to 40 years; the plan is to eventually increase to 100 percent solar.
Depending on when the project is finished, the ag center will become either the first or second county building to be solar-powered. Downtown, solar panels will also be installed on the county’s new administration building, though those panels will provide only about 5 percent of that facility’s energy needs.
“There are some really good environmental benefits by doing these kinds of projects,” said Gabe Karam, the county’s director of capital projects.
Read Friday’s Record for more on this story by staff writer Alex Breitler.
Nine solar panels stolen from Montclair Elementary
OAKLAND — Thieves have stolen nine solar panels from a portable at Montclair Elementary School, saddening teachers who used the panels to teach kids about conservation and the environment.
Staff at the school on Mountain Boulevard noticed the panels were missing last week.
"How low must you go when you steal from public education?" said Cathy Sharp, whose daughter is a second-grader at the school. "If someone stole the panels to sell them as scrap, then that's really sad."
The cobalt blue panels were installed on the portable in November 2002. Drivers could see them as they passed along Mountain Boulevard toward the Montclair shopping district. Students could also view them from the playground.
The thieves left behind three panels on the portable.
The panels produced about 6 kilowatt-hours each day, enough electricity to run a large refrigerator or up to 10 televisions each day. But just as importantly, the panels helped teachers and parents teach children about energy and the environment, Principal Nancy Bloom said.
"They produced enough power for a classroom," Bloom said Wednesday. "But they also produced enough power so that we could sell some of it back to PG&E."
Each of the panels is numbered, which Bloom hopes will help police track them down. Last year, a rash of solar panel thefts was reported in the Bay Area, including at Hearst Elementary School in Pleasanton. A suspect later tried to sell the stolen panels on Craigslist.
A state grant and donations collected through the Montclair school's Parent Teachers Association helped pay for the solar panels, which were installed by Cooperative Community Energy, a member-owned company that helps provide renewable energy to homeowners, businesses and cities.
"It's sad," Sharp said about the theft. "Especially for the kids. It's hard for them to understand that someone actually stole something from their school."
Staff at the school on Mountain Boulevard noticed the panels were missing last week.
"How low must you go when you steal from public education?" said Cathy Sharp, whose daughter is a second-grader at the school. "If someone stole the panels to sell them as scrap, then that's really sad."
The cobalt blue panels were installed on the portable in November 2002. Drivers could see them as they passed along Mountain Boulevard toward the Montclair shopping district. Students could also view them from the playground.
The thieves left behind three panels on the portable.
The panels produced about 6 kilowatt-hours each day, enough electricity to run a large refrigerator or up to 10 televisions each day. But just as importantly, the panels helped teachers and parents teach children about energy and the environment, Principal Nancy Bloom said.
"They produced enough power for a classroom," Bloom said Wednesday. "But they also produced enough power so that we could sell some of it back to PG&E."
Each of the panels is numbered, which Bloom hopes will help police track them down. Last year, a rash of solar panel thefts was reported in the Bay Area, including at Hearst Elementary School in Pleasanton. A suspect later tried to sell the stolen panels on Craigslist.
A state grant and donations collected through the Montclair school's Parent Teachers Association helped pay for the solar panels, which were installed by Cooperative Community Energy, a member-owned company that helps provide renewable energy to homeowners, businesses and cities.
"It's sad," Sharp said about the theft. "Especially for the kids. It's hard for them to understand that someone actually stole something from their school."
New Prius comes with rooftop solar panels
Toyota just unveiled its new Toyota Prius, and it takes its eco-friendliness to the next level. Yes, it's still a hybrid that gets excellent gas mileage, but now it also comes with a giant solar panel on the roof to soak up the sun's rays and convert them into energy to power your stereo and air conditioner.
The great thing about these panels is that they work even when you aren't driving. That means that when you come out to your car after working all day, it's got a bunch of energy saved up from just sitting there in the sun. Pretty awesome stuff! The new Prius will be on sale in Japan soon for between $21,000 and $26,000.
The great thing about these panels is that they work even when you aren't driving. That means that when you come out to your car after working all day, it's got a bunch of energy saved up from just sitting there in the sun. Pretty awesome stuff! The new Prius will be on sale in Japan soon for between $21,000 and $26,000.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Voters are asked to approve solar panels
As part of their science class curriculum, seventh-graders this winter faced the challenge of developing a device that would run on or use sunlight as an energy source.
The 24 students in Doug Chudzik's science class developed devices that ranged from an aluminum foil robot that stored solar energy that could be called upon at night, to a solar light bulb that drew electric energy from sunlight, to a solar-powered grill ignited by a magnifying glass.
Chudzik's students have become solar zealots, ready to explain the benefits of solar energy with the slightest encouragement.
"Using solar energy can save money and reduce use of fossil fuels," said Danny O'Steen, 12. "It's better for the environment, and it's better for people."
On March 12, O'Steen and his classmates crafted homemade concave "parabolic reflectors" out of cardboard and aluminum foil that they would eventually use to demonstrate how rays of sunlight can be directed onto a single point or line to generate heat or ignite fire.
Besides producing solar-literate seventh-graders, Keyport school officials are hoping that the students' unbridled solar enthusiasm will carry over to their parents, who will vote April 21 on whether to approve a $4 million referendum to construct solar cell panels on the roofs of the district's three buildings.
"We're hoping that they can share that learning with their parents," said Keyport Central School Principal Anthony Rapolla, who sat in on one of Chudzik's solar lessons on March 12.
Board of Education members believe that they can.
School board members say the district's proposed solar project also could serve as the means to pay for itself and the $1.5 million price tag to replace the Central School roof, school officials said.
Last replaced in 1987 for $387,000, the Central School roof will cost approximately $1.5 million, according to Armm Associates, the Cherry Hill-based roofing experts under contract to the Board of Education.
(2 of 2)
By adding the estimated $2.5 million solar energy plan, that would bring the school district's proposed total capital outlay to about $4 million.
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Although the roof replacement is essentially mandatory, the board's solar energy plan is not.
Lyle Rawlings, president of Advanced Solar Products Inc., who provided a solar panel seminar to the board last October, said solar panels would pay for themselves by generating "solar renewed energy credits" that can be sold back to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities at the market rate for the life of the 15-year program.
After the 15-year period, the school district would sell the energy credits on the open market at a fixed kilowatt rate.
About 40 percent of that $4 million figure would be covered by state aid from the Department of Education, leaving Keyport with a $2.2 million balance.
"The question then is, How are we going to pay for it?" Podracky said last October, referring to the cost of the school roof. "Are we going to get a straightforward loan for five, six years, or is the roof going to pay for itself by investing in solar panels?"
"It's all about payback," Podracky added. "It's all about getting revenue back from what it invested."
Podracky said Keyport schools' electric bill is around $90,000 a year. Rawlings said based upon preliminary solar energy production estimates, the school district would generate about $255,000 in energy credits each year, and the project would pay for itself in 6.2 years.
The solar panel system, Rawlings said, would generate between 20 percent and 30 percent of the schools' energy needs.
The 24 students in Doug Chudzik's science class developed devices that ranged from an aluminum foil robot that stored solar energy that could be called upon at night, to a solar light bulb that drew electric energy from sunlight, to a solar-powered grill ignited by a magnifying glass.
Chudzik's students have become solar zealots, ready to explain the benefits of solar energy with the slightest encouragement.
"Using solar energy can save money and reduce use of fossil fuels," said Danny O'Steen, 12. "It's better for the environment, and it's better for people."
On March 12, O'Steen and his classmates crafted homemade concave "parabolic reflectors" out of cardboard and aluminum foil that they would eventually use to demonstrate how rays of sunlight can be directed onto a single point or line to generate heat or ignite fire.
Besides producing solar-literate seventh-graders, Keyport school officials are hoping that the students' unbridled solar enthusiasm will carry over to their parents, who will vote April 21 on whether to approve a $4 million referendum to construct solar cell panels on the roofs of the district's three buildings.
"We're hoping that they can share that learning with their parents," said Keyport Central School Principal Anthony Rapolla, who sat in on one of Chudzik's solar lessons on March 12.
Board of Education members believe that they can.
School board members say the district's proposed solar project also could serve as the means to pay for itself and the $1.5 million price tag to replace the Central School roof, school officials said.
Last replaced in 1987 for $387,000, the Central School roof will cost approximately $1.5 million, according to Armm Associates, the Cherry Hill-based roofing experts under contract to the Board of Education.
(2 of 2)
By adding the estimated $2.5 million solar energy plan, that would bring the school district's proposed total capital outlay to about $4 million.
Advertisement
Although the roof replacement is essentially mandatory, the board's solar energy plan is not.
Lyle Rawlings, president of Advanced Solar Products Inc., who provided a solar panel seminar to the board last October, said solar panels would pay for themselves by generating "solar renewed energy credits" that can be sold back to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities at the market rate for the life of the 15-year program.
After the 15-year period, the school district would sell the energy credits on the open market at a fixed kilowatt rate.
About 40 percent of that $4 million figure would be covered by state aid from the Department of Education, leaving Keyport with a $2.2 million balance.
"The question then is, How are we going to pay for it?" Podracky said last October, referring to the cost of the school roof. "Are we going to get a straightforward loan for five, six years, or is the roof going to pay for itself by investing in solar panels?"
"It's all about payback," Podracky added. "It's all about getting revenue back from what it invested."
Podracky said Keyport schools' electric bill is around $90,000 a year. Rawlings said based upon preliminary solar energy production estimates, the school district would generate about $255,000 in energy credits each year, and the project would pay for itself in 6.2 years.
The solar panel system, Rawlings said, would generate between 20 percent and 30 percent of the schools' energy needs.
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