It’s hardly surprising when discussing the potential of solar energy, statements from Israel get biblical. After all, it is known as the Holy Land.
This from the Israeli ministry of Foreign Affairs website:
“Thousands of years after the biblical general Joshua prayed for the sun to stand still long enough to win a critical battle at the dawn of Israeli history, founding Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion recognized that rays from this hot star could be ‘converted into a driving, dynamic and electric force.’”
A new highly efficient solar panel, designed specifically for use in Israel by Suntech Power Holdings, could help the nation in a critical battle: the battle for energy independence.
Israel is highly populated and relies heavily on imported energy. Plans to tap offshore gas reserves are still a long way off in the future. Jonathan Cohen, CEO of Arava Power - which just opened Israel’s first solar PV farm and recently announced a $2 billion plan to develop 400MW of solar projects in the Negev Desert - has deep concerns about the future of his country’s energy security.
“At this very moment, Israel is in need of electricity. We are going through an electric drought, with hundreds of megawatts needed.”
Suntech says the new 300W Vd multicrystalline solar panel is tailored for Israeli conditions, where dense urban areas and high sun exposure suit roof-top solar electricity production. The panel provides 10 percent more electricity than conventional modules the company says, achieving a 15.5 percent energy conversion rate - well above the 13-14 percent efficiency of standard polycrystalline solar modules. Suntech have also developed solar panels in this range in different wattages that have been recently released in several markets.
Utilising an innovative hybrid wafer design combining both mono-and-multicrystaline silicon structures, Suntech claims the 300W Vd’s low-oxygen content means it delivers one of the highest power per weight ratios in the industry, giving Israeli customers the best value for money on the market.
“Israel’s excellent solar resources make solar power a viable and highly cost competitive energy solution that can help the country move towards energy independence,” says James Hu, Suntech’s president for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.
