Dirty Coal statistic of the day

Virtually all of the continental United States has far better potential for solar PV energy production than Germany. In fact, the solar PV production potential in much of Germany is essentially equivalent to that in much of Alaska. Yet Germany is not only the global leader in solar PV demand, but it currently gets more than 20 times as much of its energy from solar than the far more sun-rich United States.

Kanga, one of two cats in our household, doesn't know it but the Bionaire cat box she's about to use is solar-powered!

Did you know there’s such a thing as a solar powered fridge? A solar-powered computer? A solar-powered TV? A solar-powered washing machine? And, check this out, a solar-powered kitty litter box?

No, we’re not kidding – they do exist, but maybe not in the form you’re thinking right now.

We here at SolarChargedDriving.Com love solar PV and, due to personal heritage reasons, we also love Germany (which also happens to be the current solar PV capital of the world).

We figure many of you love solar PV, and quite a few of you might love Germany – or least a chance to go there for free.

So, we thought we’d point you toward KACO New Energy USA’s “I Love PV” contest.

Growing demand for solar is one of the key factors that is driving down its price.

According to a new report from Pike Research, in many markets, solar costs will reach the long-elusive goal of grid parity, the cost of electricity from traditional power sources, by 2013. Between 2010 and 2013, Pike Research forecasts that solar demand will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24 percent.

“Solar prices are plunging quickly, and lower pricing will fuel a surge in demand in 2010 and beyond,” says Pike senior analyst Dave Cavanaugh.