05.07.2009

SolarEdge is developing advanced power-harvesting solutions for photovoltaic arrays. It will lower the average cost per watt in any typical photovoltaic installation via increased wattage and lower costs, provide for easier and cheaper installation, and help make Photovoltaic (PV) installations relevant in more sites. SolarEdge was the first to break into the global market with a unique distributed power harvesting and monitoring system which they say will increase the efficiency of photovoltaic solar arrays. Generally the electrical output from solar rays (usually about 15 solar panels lined up in a row) are controlled by a single device which decides how much voltage and current to use at any given time. Since the panels’ outputs are linked, if one panel is affected by an outside factor like share or malfunction, the entire efficiency of the array is reduced. SolarEdge has pioneered a product which offers individual command and control of each panel. A specially developed power box with specifically designed microchips is attached to each panel which provides constant information which enables individual calibration. In addition to the power boxes, the company has developed more efficient, smaller and lighter inverters, which convert the Direct Current (DC) from the panels to the current used in households, Alternating Current (AC). In addition, the power boxes have been designed to withstand high temperatures in a solar field for 20 years. The individual panel monitoring function will also help improve efficiency and security. Until now, if a drop in efficiency was noted, technicians had to go row by row to check if a panel had been damaged, which can be time consuming with arrays of thousands of panels.

Solar energy can be produced basically from two different technologies. (1) Photovoltaic which converts sunlight directly into electricity. The main advantage of this system is that medium and small size facilities can be established such as on roof tops and electricity can be relatively easily produced at points that are distant from the grid. The main disadvantage is the high cost of this technology. (2) Thermal-solar technology, which operates at a high efficiency is thus relatively cheaper than other solar technologies but requires vast expanse of land. Thermal solar power concentrates the sun’s tremendous heat energy into heat conductors that transfer the energy to conventional steam turbine engines

SPNI leads the way in the search for environmentally sustainable and economically sound ways to promote growth while protecting Israel’s unique environmental heritage

The smartRASTER® is a depth calibrated well log data format first developed by TGS and now widely used in the oil and gas industry

A means of reducing the cost of a well by drilling a smaller-diameter hole than is customary for the depth and the types of formations to be drilled. A slim hole permits the scaling down of all phases of the drilling and completion operations; i.e., smaller bits, less powerful and smaller rigs

Bank of Israel has imposed limitations on the amount of loans a single borrower or single group may take for fear that if this group were to implode the bank’s stability could be undermined.

Under these restrictions, a bank may not provide credit of more than 15% of their owner’s equity to any single borrower.

This can have a bearing for instance on IEC’s ability to invest without any limit in increasing its generation capacity

Two, three or sometimes even four joints of pipe joined together

Anyone with an interest in, or affected by, an entity’s activities