European Union Solar PV Installations Hit 16GW

According to the EurObserv'ER (L'Observatioire Des Energies Renouvelables) the installation of PV systems in the European Union reached almost 16GW last year.  That's 16 billion watts! If I figure correctly based on an average of 170 watt panels that is just shy of 600,000 individual panels...quite a bit of installing that went on.

It seems like this is a good sign for the industry.  I don't see any reason why we can do this is North America too.  Come on NA..PV Charge!

http://www.eurobserv-er.org/downloads.asp

Solar Shade?

Those two terms would seem to be in contradiction.  When you install solar panels you lay them out so there is no shade since this reduces their efficiency.  But Envision Solar uses the panels themselves for shade, in parkings lots. As they say in the Guiness commercial..Brilliant!

Envision Solar developed a center post system with a tree like reach that can cover 8 parking spots. One of their trees can develop about 7.5 Kw of power.  This seems to be a slam dunk, lots of open space and plenty of sun.  Plus these spots will be much appreciated in places like Sacramento or Phoenix in the dead of summer where getting in a car that has been sitting in the sun can be brutal.

They are working on other things like integrated building structures and something they call LifeTree. It's a fiberglass tree that can hold about 1.4kw of power. It's much lighter that a traditional stand and can be installed quickly. Think of it like a back yard umbrella but it gives you more than shade.  Pretty interesting stuff...

http://envisionsolar.com/