Chevron Redefines Itself by Testing Solar Technologies

Chevron Redefines Itself by Testing Solar Technologies

On an 8-acre dirt plot, which used to be one of their old refineries pumping out gasoline and asphalt, the oil powerhouse Chevron will begin testing seven emerging photovoltaic technologies to add to their energy portfolio.

The test site will be home to 7,700 solar panels. The seven different photovoltaic solar technologies represented will come from seven different solar companies that are in a position to manage the power demand for all of Chevron's worldwide operations.  Of the seven technologies, six are thin-film technologies from Abound Solar, MiaSolé, Schüco, Solar Frontier, Sharp, and Solibro, and one is a crystalline-silicon photovoltaic technology from Innovalight.  Chevron will monitor all of the panels to compare performance and cost versus output.

With operations in 100 countries, Chevron officials say that they are looking for solar panels that are significantly affordable but still more reliable and efficient than other products.

Ever since Chevron started monitoring their resource usage in 1992, they have been saving money by employing hydrogen fuel cells and solar technologies at their facilities.  They have cut energy use by a third and have saved approximately $3 billion in energy. 

Des King, president of Chevron Technology Ventures, said “By bringing together seven emerging solar technologies, Project Brightfield represents one of the most comprehensive solar energy tests of its kind and is an innovative approach to evaluating new technologies.  Testing competing technologies side by side means that we can better understand their potential application at other Chevron facilities.”

Chevron Technology Ventures is a division that identifies, evaluates, and showcases emerging technologies.

Rich Hessler Solar
Home to Solar Financing and Solar Marketing 

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Ups and Downs in Maryland Solar Industry

Ups and Downs in Maryland Solar Industry

A great stepping stone for the Maryland solar industry would be to add solar energy systems to state buildings.  Well, on March 24th, 2010, just that happened.  The Maryland Department of General Services announced that they would be installing photovoltaic systems on 5 of their buildings.  Engaged in a 20-year power purchase agreement with SunEdison to install, finance, own and operate the five solar systems, Maryland taxpayers would not be responsible for the upfront cost of the projects.  Solar arrays would also be a great addition to the state's renewable energy portfolio.

Another good sign for the Maryland solar industry involves the Maryland Energy Administration updating a new incentive program for the installation of mid-sized solar electric systems.  In an attempt to make clean energy retrofits accessible to local businesses, the two year program would use a total of up to $1.45 million to help subsidize the cost of commercial r ooftop solar projects.  Maryland businesses would qualify for a rebate of $500 per kilowatt of solar electricity installed for systems between 20 and 100 kW, or a grant of up to $50,000.  The MEA incentive program would also cover up to 15% of a solar thermal system, or up to $25,000 per grant.  Business owners should be very attracted to this offer as the economy is prime for building your own solar business from the ground up.  The Maryland solar industry will undoubtedly see growth from this move.

But in the end, one blemish to the Maryland solar industry must be noted.  On March 26th, BP Solar regretfully laid off 320 of their 430 employees putting a halt to all production of solar panels in their Frederick, Maryland plant.

Unfortunately, because we are still in a recession, the Maryland solar industry along with other states' solar markets will still see setbacks like the one previously mentioned.  This might be another sad event that needs to occur for the entire green economy to move forward.  Some solar companies will have to fail before we see price drops and the huge boom the solar industry seems to be waiting impatiently for.

Rich Hessler Solar
Solar Financing and Solar Marketing 

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