This time last year, we totally punk’d our readers with a fictional story about Derma-Volt, a suntan lotion of the future that allows individuals to charge by, in effect, turning their skin into a solar panel. But we’ve grown up. We’ve evolved. And now we’re, like, so above April Fool’s pranks. With this in mind, here’s this morning’s rundown of solar energy news and related info:

AES Solar Energy Ltd. — a joint venture between The AES Corporation and Riverstone Holdings — today announced that one of its subsidiaries closed on a 173 million Euro financing for the construction of the Cellino San Marco project, via MarketWatch. Located in southern Italy, the 43-megawatt solar installation is the largest photovoltaic (PV) project in the country to reach financial close.

The Daily Kansan today ran a piece, “Solar Energy’s’ Bright Future in Kansas,” profiling the activities of the EcoHawks, a student engineering group at KU. Kansas is by no means a leader in solar energy research, development or deployment. Nevertheless, the article is worth a read because it highlights the challenges that must be overcome if solar panels are to become a staple feature of houses across the country. (I’ll give you a hint: it has to do with cost.) Right now, solar panels are a great investment in only a number of states, like California, Arizona, New Jersey, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New York and a few others. For solar power to be widely adopted, that per-watt cost will need to continue to come down.

Georgia-based Suniva Inc., a maker of solar cells and solar panels, said today that it will use a $141 million federal loan guarantee to build a manufacturing plant in Michigan, via Detroit Free Press. To be located in Saginaw County, the plant is expected to employ 500 people.

In California solar energy news, Solar Power, Inc. will help build a 230-kilowatt (DC) solar installation at an affordable housing development in Rancho Cucamonga, California, via MarketWatch. To be installed at San Sevaine Villas Affordable Housing, the solar panels will help offset a “significant portion” of the complex’s electricity costs.

And with that, we’ll wrap it up. Thanks for reading — feel free to post your ideas and thoughts. See you back here tomorrow.

Berkeley, California has played host to a number of nation-shaping movements in recent decades, from civil rights protests, to tree sittings, to building takeovers. But is it possible that years from now, people will be looking at this nonconforming East Bay city as the epicenter of modern solar power?

A number of scientists at the University of California at Berkeley think so, as their work could one day allow farmers to include solar power among their field of crops.

The team has found a way to get tobacco plants to grow synthetic photovoltaic (PV) and photochemical cells. The cells could then be removed, dissolved in a solution and sprayed on glass or plastic to create a limitless potential of biodegradable, disposable solar panels.

The project is still in the works. But the idea is that, when it comes to gathering sunlight, plants know best. By infecting them with a genetically modified virus, scientists are able to induce the creation of artificial chromophores, which convert the sun’s rays into electrons. The same may be said of silicon-based solar panels.

The chromophores grow on top of one another, arranging themselves in minuscule rods a few hundred nanometers long. At the right size and orientation, the rods could be used to generate a steady flow of electrons.

So far the project has been environmentally safe, but the UC Berkeley scientists have not yet demonstrated the cells turning light into valuable electricity. It could be years before the experiment becomes a source of solar power.

A week ago, we profiled Pacific Gas & Electric Co.’s California Solar in Schools Initiative, a program that encourages students to learn about solar energy. Under the initiative, the California utility has funded the installation of 125 solar energy systems at public K-12 schools since 2004. This week, we take a closer look at one of those schools.

Situated in Butte County among the northwest foothills of California’s Central Valley, the Paradise Intermediate School serves the area’s middle school students. A requisite for all sixth graders is the school’s Evergreen 6th Grade Academy, a program that, according to its mission statement, works “in close partnership with parents and the local community to develop the students of our program as whole individuals.”

In 2004, the academy — known within the school as Evergreen 6 — applied for a PG&E solar schools installation grant. Two years later, they had their 1.06 kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic (PV) system installed. The system now helps to power their library and computer lab.

“I’ve never seen any program like it,” said Greg Holman, a science and math teacher at Evergreen. Holman was one of over 100 public school teachers from around the state to attend a solar training workshop in Sacramento, a day-long program about the history of energy and how it relates to solar. The class is part of the initiative, aimed to equip teachers with skills to incorporate solar lessons into their curriculum.

“I was a beginner,” said Holman about his solar knowledge prior to the seminar. “Now I’m at intermediate.”

Holman says that PG&E has “been huge” in keeping up with the program at their school. “The installers talk to students, and Karalee is always a phone call away.” Karalee Browne is PG&E’s Solar Schools Program Manager.

“Greg has been very enthusiastic about the project throughout the entire process,” she said.

Browne says PG&E is looking beyond solar, trying to partner with California school districts to improve school lunches and water usage. The company’s Bright Ideas grants are a means to that end, providing funds for teacher training and other sustainable measures on California campuses.

Evergreen 6 was awarded a Bright Ideas grant in fall 2007. They used the funds to purchase Sun Ovens, which students use to prepare their own lunches and snacks on warm days. The sixth graders are now creating a solar cookbook in a fundraising effort to purchase a Sun Oven for a village in Congo, whose residents still rely on wood for cooking.

“Our whole identity has changed to solar,” said Holman, adding that the community has taken note of the project and businesses have come to talk to the school about solar energy. “It’s really neat to have students explain it them.”

More info: See Evergreen Video “What we Do That’s Green.”

Recently, a Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) poll asked 500 Americans if they support solar energy development on public lands. 75 percent of respondents said yes, yes they do. The poll excluded from consideration lands that are already earmarked as national parks or nature preserves. What these results indicate is that Americans see the necessity for developing domestic clean energy resources, and believe that solar farms on large tracts of uninhabited, sunny land makes good business sense.

Looking at the numbers can be sobering: in 2008, we imported 57 percent of our petroleum, although we were the third largest crude oil producer in the world (EIA), and while our consumption and petroleum imports continue to rise, our production has been steadily decreasing over time. Turning to domestic renewable energy production is one piece of the energy puzzle moving forward. Solar farms, with their scalable technology and predictable output, are an increasingly attractive investment for energy producers.

But not everyone agrees that using public lands for solar is a good idea, as we’ve discussed before on this blog. If SEIA had taken a wider population sample, they may have discovered that many people object to solar development on public lands because much of the land in question is desert area in the west and southwest: perhaps counter-intuitively, deserts present one of the most delicate natural ecosystems in the country. Conservationists argue that protecting native wildlife and water resources should come first. One project in the spotlight has been BrightSource Energy’s Ivanpah solar plant in the Mojave–conservationists got the developer to scale back the project significantly.

Yet this country has energy needs to meet, and quickly. We’re already making great use of wind and hydroelectric power, and those sectors will also continue to grow. But truly large-scale solar is in some ways in its infancy, and finding large enough tracts of privately held land that are suitable for solar development isn’t easy. So, what do you think? Here are the essential pros and cons of developing solar energy projects on public land.

CONS

• Nearby residents don’t like the aesthetics
• May endanger delicate ecosystems
• Relatively inefficient per acre vs. some other technologies
• Puts water use pressure on previously undeveloped land
• Red tape hassle: difficult to obtain permitting

PROS

• Uses difficult-to-develop land in low population areas
• Uses land not earmarked as a natural preserve or national park
• Supplies large amounts of clean energy
• Consumes less water than traditional power plants
• Contributes to energy independence/domestic energy production
• Provides federal revenues

All right, everyone — we know your day isn’t complete without an infusion of solar energy news and related info. So here’s what we’ve got for you this morning: oil rigs will soon scour to the eastern seaboard (albeit 125 miles offshore) after a historic announcement by President Obama; California solar power developers are frantically navigating rules and regs in order to beat an end-of-year deadline for federal stimulus funding; a solar-energy only utility plans an initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange; and it seems a U.S.-based solar panel maker is coming to Sacramento, Calif. Want more details? Keep reading…

The big energy-related story today? Drill, Obama! Drill! The President today announced plans to expand offshore drilling, effectively ending a long-standing ban on oil exploration along the East Coast. The move will allow companies to drill for oil and natural gas over some 167 million acres of ocean, stretching from south of New Jersey to the central coast of Florida. New Jersey northward will remain off limits, as will the Pacific Coast from Mexico to Canada. For a good look at what this may mean for America’s environment and economy, check out this piece from John Broder of NYTimes.com.

Developers of large-scale solar installations are racing to get the green light from the California Energy Commission so that they can break ground before year’s end, as USA Today relays. For the projects to be eligible for a federal grant program, construction must begin in 2009 or 2010. If all 49 projects seeking funding are completed, California stands to add more than just electricity to its economy, including “10,000 construction jobs, 2,200 operational jobs and up to $30 billion in investment, including up to $10 billion in federal stimulus dollars.”

In related California solar news, project developer Tessera Solar took a step closer to realizing its plan for a large solar-thermal power plant in the California desert, via NASDAQ. The California Energy Commission and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management have determined that the company’s “850-megawatt solar farm, proposed on 8,000 acres of federal land in San Bernardino County, could be built and operated in a way that minimizes its impact on the environment and the area’s aesthetics.”

In solar industry news, Solar Power Inc., a U.S.-based panel maker, will open a new headquarters and solar-panel manufacturing plant in Sacramento, Calif., reports Sunpluggers. The former McLellan Air Force Base, now called McLellan Business Park, will play host to the company’s new buildings. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is on board with the news: ”The addition of this renewable-energy manufacturing facility is great news for Sacramento and the rest of the state because it will lead to more homes and businesses powered by sunshine while creating jobs in the clean-tech industry.”

In international solar news, an outfit by the name of Engyco is angling to become the first publicly listed European solar power utility company, and hopes to raise as much as a billion Euros on the London Stock Exchange, via ProActiveInvestors.co.uk. I’m not a financial analyst, but that valuation seems to represent a serious chunk of solar power potential. What does Engyco aim to do, exactly? A company statement reveals a few hints: “Since the end of 2008, the cost of capital has risen sharply and Spain has experienced a collapse in its real estate, construction and property sectors. As a result, many owners of solar assets are willing to sell these non-core assets, which provides a plentiful supply of operating solar assets.” Solar, it seems, is just like any other asset — buy low, sell high, baby.

And with that, we’ll call it a day. Thanks for reading. Come back and see us tomorrow.

Last Friday, the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) updated an incentive program for mid-sized solar energy systems on commercial buildings throughout the state.

The $1.45 million program will allow Maryland businesses to qualify for a rebate worth $2.00 per photovoltaic (PV) watt for systems between 20 and 100 KW, up to $50,000. Additionally, businesses can receive a 15 percent rebate on solar hot water systems, up to $25,000. The goal is to make solar energy more affordable and, in turn, a more common feature of Maryland’s commercial buildings.

The funding, made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is expected to last through fiscal year 2011. It is an update to the original Mid-Size Solar Energy Grant Program that Maryland undertook in November 2009.

The newly announced funding capped off an eventful week for Maryland solar. On March 22, the state lost 320 renewable energy jobs due to layoffs by a solar panel manufacturing plant in Frederick, MD. Two days later, the Maryland Department of General Services (DGS) announced that they would install solar energy systems on five of the agency’s buildings.

Find out more about solar energy in Maryland:

• Baltimore Energy Company Offers $90 Million for Solar Installations
• Maryland Targets Mid-Size Solar with ARRA Funding

Burritos always taste better when they’re… solar powered? Chipotle thinks so.

Back in October 2009, the Mexican grill announced that they had partnered with Standard Renewable Energy to install solar energy systems on the rooftops of 75 Chipotle restaurants across the country. The move makes the restaurant chain the largest producer of solar energy in the restaurant industry.

Chipotle Founder and CEO Steve Ells said the solar initiative is in line with the company’s commitment to change the way people think about fast food. To that end, Chipotle also strives to provide ingredients from sustainable sources.

“That same kind of thinking now influences all areas of our business,” he said at the time of the October announcement.

Taken together, the Chipotle solar installations will avoid some 40 million pounds of carbon-dioxide emissions over the course of their useful life. The solar panels are also intended to reduce the restaurants’ consumption of conventional electricity during peak daytime hours when pressure on the electrical grid is greatest.

Chipotle hasn’t limited its activities to installing solar power. The company also sources wind power and has taken steps to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings. The Chipotle grill in Gurnee, Illinois, for instance, partially powers its restaurant with a wind-turbine able to supply 10 percent of the building’s energy demands. The turbine is one of several green features in place at this Chipotle location, which is a participating project in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) for Retail pilot program.

So far, solar energy systems have been installed at locations in Colorado and Texas. There are two other locations, one in Long Island, New York and another in Minneapolis, Minnesota, currently awaiting LEED certification.

Happy Tuesday, everyone. Here’s your rundown of solar energy news:

Healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente will install solar panels at 15 of its California facilities, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco-based Recurrent Energy will head up the solar installations, which together will represent about 15 megawatts of generation capacity.

In solar industry news, Enphase Energy Inc. — a maker of micro-inverters — has raised $40 million from a number of Silicon Valley investors, according to the San Jose Business Journal.

Kate Galbraith of Green Inc. this morning considers the likelihood that Texas will adopt tougher energy-efficiency standards and strengthen the state’s renewable energy standard as it pertains to non-wind resources, like solar and geothermal. All told, the state could require that 500 megawatts of solar power be brought online in coming years — a small amount relative to Texas’ electricity demand, but a large increase from the seven or so megawatts of solar currently in place.

Today is the last day to register for the Tufts Energy Conference before registration prices go up. The event, which will place April 16-17, looks awesome. I encourage all of you Boston area folks — and those willing to make the trip — to attend.

Finally today, more about solar schools: via MarketWire comes news of the commission of a new 445-kilowatt solar panel array in Winsted, Connecticut. The system — which was installed on a number of rooftops across the Winsted School District — should produce nearly half-a-million kilowatt-hours (kWhs) of clean electricity in its first year of operation, saving the district about $26,000. The project was made possible by a grant from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF).

Solar panel theft is on the rise, up 17 percent annually from 2002-2009. As the benefits of solar energy become more widely known, theft of solar panels, or at least attempted theft, will undoubtedly rise.

There are a number of steps you can take to minimize the chance of solar theft: deeply engrave a marking into the metal frame of each panel; be sure to take down ladders and other easy paths to your roof before you’re in for the night; chain all of the panels together so that a thief would have to move multiple panels at once (at 40 lbs. each, this quickly gets difficult); install motion detector lights on your roof; or ask if your installer can use one-way screws when fastening the panels to the racking system.

If those measures don’t give you comfort, there are several products on the market to protect your pricey, eco-friendly investment, including fastening bolts, detection lights and alarm systems to make sure your panels remain intact overnight.

The DETER Bolt is made of stainless steel and accompanied by its own wrench; the only tool on the market able to screw and unscrew the bolts from your solar panel. Not even another person with a DETER Bolt can unscrew yours, as each model comes with a specially engraved number that corresponds to the wrench included.

Another option is to use a specialized mounting solution: some racking systems essentially frame all of your solar panels into a single block, making it incredibly difficult to move them (it also makes them difficult to service or replace, so weigh your priorities with your solar installer). A more convenient alternative is affixing multiple panels to a single long rail using one-way screws–again, using the combined weight of the solar panels themselves as the primary deterrent. Australian solar integrator Energy Matters markets such a system, but depending on the design of your array, your solar installer may be able to custom fit one.

Alarm systems triggered by removing a component of the solar array or by cutting through any of the wires are also a smart idea, and will make your insurance company happy.

To discourage solar theft from another angle, be wary of buying solar panels on auction websites or at a steep “discount” from private sellers. As long as you work with a qualified solar installer, though, you should have no worries. The installer will use only new equipment when giving you a quote for many reasons: to ensure valid equipment warranties; to protect themselves as well as your investment; and to ensure you receive all applicable solar incentives, which generally only apply to new solar components.

To read more about solar panel theft and protection, check out these other GetSolar posts:

Companies Find Ways to Guard Solar Panels as Solar Theft Rises

Solar Panels Stolen From California Winery

Chico, CA: Hotbed of Solar Crime

Courtesy of the National Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the California Energy Commission (CEC) has received $314.5 million to invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency programs during the 2010 calendar year, beginning in April.

The CEC will use the grant to fund four separate renewable energy initiatives: the State Energy Program, the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Program, the Appliance Rebate Program and Energy Assurance Planning.

The CEC will use the majority of the stimulus funding ($226 million) to implement the State Energy Program; a state plan to cut energy cost and consumption, slice the state’s reliance on imported energy and scale back environmental impacts.

California will pour $49.6 million into the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Program to fuel investments aimed at saving California consumers 61.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Through the program, the CEC will directly allocate over $35 million to small cities and counties throughout the state in an effort reduce over 22,000 tons of CO2 emissions and save local governments over $9 million. The savings is expected to translate job creation and retention.

$35.2 million will be allocated to the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, beginning Apr. 22. Clothes washers, room and window air conditioners and refrigerators will be eligible for the new rebates, which will be given in addition to rebates offered by California utilities or appliance manufacturers.

Finally, California will provide $3.6 million for energy assurance planning. The funding is meant to improve California’s emergency preparedness plans. It will also help improve smart grid training across the state by paying to hiring staff in technology integration, interdependencies and cyber-security.