Edison International In Process of Launching Photovoltaic Project on Roof Tops

March 28, 2008 by Mary Anne Simpson

Edison International plans to launch a roof top photovoltaic solar project. The process requires no fuel or a transmission station to operate. The plans include an initial phase to be up and running by Summer, 2008.

In an exclusive interview with John Bryson, Chairman and CEO of Edison International by CNBC reporter, Dylan Ratigan explained a new direct method of delivering solar energy. The process is called Photovoltaic technology,which means it converts sun energy directly into power within the solar cell. The unique aspect of this project, as explained by John Bryon involves leasing about 2 ½ miles of rooftops in the hotter regions of Southern California.

The roof tops will be fitted with thin-film solar cells and have the ability to literally dump electricity into the surrounding community. The communities have been preselected to include areas where Southern California Edison has a growing customer base. The advantage of the photovoltaic technology is that it does not require a separate transmission station or added fuel costs. The thin-cell solar manufacturers has not been determined at this time.

According to Mr. Bryson, the Photovoltaic Roof Top Project is planning to be up and running in its initial phase by this Summer. The process when it begins can almost immediately begin to produce electricity to relieve the additional burden of air conditioning and the like during the hot season.

The cost of the project is estimated to be 875 million dollars. The advantage to Edison and its customers is the ability to eventually according to large scale production reduce the cost of energy. Mr. Bryson estimates the new technology on a large scale is cost effective because other methods like natural gas, coal and hydro sources require additional expenditures for transmission and fuel.

The State of California is at the forefront of legislation concerning alternative energy sources and has set a mandate that 20 percent of all electricity must be generated by alternative energy sources by 2010. According to Mr. Bryson, Edison International and its subsidiaries are in complete accord with energy conservation.

Edison International , local economies, customers and manufacturers may see big dividends in the future for their investment in energy conservation. The project is the single largest solar energy project of its kind on a world-wide basis.

See video at: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=698312659


print this article email this article download pdf blog this article bookmark this article     Stumble it Digg this share on Facebook retweet share on Reddit add to delicious
Rate this story - 4.2 /5 (14 votes)

Rank Filter

Move the slider to adjust rank threshold, so that you can hide some of the comments.


Display comments: newest first


March 28, 2008 all stories

Comments: 1

4.2 /5 (14 votes)
  • Stumble this up

  • Digg this

  • share this

  • hide
  • Related Stories




  • hide
  • Relevant PhysicsForums posts

  • Trying to adapt a fuel gage circuit
    created 3 hours ago
  • Pushing the piston.
    created 8 hours ago
  • Do Camcorders/ Video camera have Sensors in them?
    created 13 hours ago
  • Aspiring Engineering major looking for general answers
    created Nov 19, 2009
  • More from Physics Forums - General Engineering

Other News

Newspaper circulation may be worse than it looks (AP)

Newspaper circulation may be worse than it looks

Technology / Internet

created 9 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(AP) -- While U.S. newspapers are losing subscribers at a staggering rate, a few dailies stand out because their circulation is rising. But they aren't necessarily selling more copies.


Canadian woman loses benefits over Facebook photo

Technology / Internet

created 9 hours ago | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

(AP) -- A Canadian woman on long-term sick leave for depression says she lost her benefits because her insurance agent found photos of her on Facebook in which she appeared to be having fun.


China is the world's largest emitter of the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming

China harnesses mountain wind power

Technology / Energy

created 19 hours ago | popularity 4.1 / 5 (7) | comments 0

In the mountains above the southwestern Chinese town of Dali, dozens of new wind turbines dot the landscape -- a symbol of the country's sky-high ambitions for clean, green energy.


Analysts say AmEx is most interested in the so-called peer-to-peer services of Revolution

American Express takes aim at PayPal with Revolution

Technology / Internet

created 16 hours ago | popularity 4.5 / 5 (2) | comments 1

With its deal to buy Revolution Money, American Express is taking aim at the growing market for online and alternative payments, in a challenge to recognized leader PayPal, analysts say.


Hackers leak e-mails, stoke climate debate

Technology / Internet

created Nov 21, 2009 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (34) | comments 27

(AP) -- Computer hackers have broken into a server at a well-respected climate change research center in Britain and posted hundreds of private e-mails and documents online - stoking debate over whether some scientists have ...