Signed: US-German Solar Research Cooperation Agreement

The Helmholtz Association, Germany's largest scientific organization, and the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have signed a cooperation agreement to jointly close gaps in solar energy research and accelerate the development of new technologies.

The joint research effort was announced in Berlin, Germany by representatives of both organizations. “Today two outstanding organisations have agreed to join forces and drive progress in the fields of photovoltaic and solar thermal energy research,” said Jürgen Mlynek, President of the Helmholtz Association.

Background: While solar energy is plentiful, converting it into electric power economically requires more efficient and cheaper photovoltaic cells and solar thermal energy modules. In order to achieve this goal, researchers are pursuing new approaches with nano-structured materials and innovative module architecture.

“This agreement promises to advance the potential of the materials and technology that will form the basis of solar cells and solar fuels in the future,” said Dan Arvizu, NREL's Director and Chief Executive.

Participating institutions on the German side are the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the Research Center Jülich and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Material und Energie.

Teams at HZB and in Jülich focus on new thin-layer materials for solar cells. Researchers at the DLR are perfecting modules for the thermal utilization of solar energy, which are already being applied commercially in large solar thermal power plants. Specialists at DLR are also developing new kinds of thermal storage systems that can retain heat accumulated in the daytime for use at night, allowing electricity to be generated around the clock.

NREL, in Golden, Colorado, began operations in 1977 and is the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) primary laboratory for energy efficiency and renewable energy research and development. The Helmholtz Association, with headquarters in Berlin, Germany comprises 31,000 employees in 17 research centers and an annual budget of approximately €3.3 billion.

Buchtipp: Exporthandbuch Erneuerbare Energien USA 2010/2011

Den Markt für erneuerbare Energien in den USA beschreibt detailliert das Exporthandbuch Erneuerbare Energien USA 2010/2011 der Deutschen Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena).

Die Publikation geht im Einzelnen auf die Marktentwicklungen und -perspektiven in den Vereinigten Staaten im Bereich Solar-, Wind- und Bioenergie ein.

Einzelne Staaten haben in den USA die Vorreiterrolle bei Einführung und Förderung erneuerbarer Energien übernommen. Deshalb beschäftigt sich das Exporthandbuch besonders mit den rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen und Fördermaßnahmen der Staaten Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Kalifornien, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York State, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas und Wisconsin.

Das Exporthandbuch Erneuerbare Energien USA 2010/2011 ist im Rahmen der Exportinitiative Erneuerbare Energien des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Technologie (BMWi) entstanden. Hier geht's zu Bestellseite und Leseprobe.

5 Questions Foreign Solar Companies Should Ask When Recruiting in the U.S.

In cross-border business, particularly in relatively new markets, there is no shortage of "You want it? We can do it!", Jack-of-all-trades business consultancies and organziations, who offer their service when companies from abroad are looking to recruit employees in the US.

PV companies from abroad who have recently arrived in the US have most likely encountered the type. Using a boutique "business development" services provider for everything on the shopping list may seem tempting, but it can backfire.

Why? If you are in charge of recruitment German-speaking, German-trained PV sales engineers, project planners or back-office staff for your solar company in the U.S., you may want to read these examples from the Germany-USA Career Center blog:

5 Questions to Ask Recruiters and Search Consultants

Did you notice that recruiting agencies and job boards keep playing bait-and-switch with their clients, constantly changing their focus, service and fee structure? Theirs has turned into a buyer’s market, thanks to a miserable economy. And it definitely hurts.

Good for you, the buyer – IF you know to ask the right questions, and how to compare apples to apples (without getting distracted by the occasional orange or lemon the other side throws in, just to make their offer look extra yummy).

In my experience, the following five questions should serve American and German companies in Germany and in the U.S. well, when evaluating organizations, recruiting agencies or job boards for helping them find and hire bilingual or multilingual, highly qualified employees:

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