GANA to host solar panel at Glass Week

The Mirror Division and Energy Committee of the Glass Association of North America, Topeka, Kan.,will sponsor a solar panel during Glass Week 2009, Feb. 12-15, 2009, at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, according to a Dec. 16 GANA release. The panel will take place starting at 12 p.m. Feb. 13, and will be facilitated by Michael Ondrus, director of solar energy systems,Glasstech Inc., Perrysburg, Ohio,and incoming 2009 GANA president. In addition, the first official meeting of the GANA Energy Committee will be held following the panel, scheduled through 3 p.m.

Cheryl Kennedy, senior scientist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colo., will speak on Requirements and Potential for Concentrated Solar Power Mirrors. She will outline the development, performance and durability of solar reflector materials and research being performed to reduce the cost of electricity to a cost-competitive basis with conventional fossil power technologies. She also will estimate the CSP worldwide market opportunity for the glass industry, according to the release.

Frank (Tex) Wilkins, concentrating solar power team leader, Solar Energy Technologies Program, Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. will speak on Concentrating Solar Power. He will discuss the Department of Energy’s plans for developing CSP technology through R&D and assistance to industry. He also will provide an estimate of CSP’s market potential and how it may provide a market opportunity for the glass industry, according to the release.

“Renewable energy is at the forefront of our national public policy agenda,” said William Yanek, GANA executive vice president, in the release. “GANA’s Energy Committee and Mirror Division will be leaders in the glass industry’s participation in renewable energy initiatives. The GANA Solar Panel and Energy Committee meeting will begin to drive that effort.”

With the influx of new technology and interest in the energy and solar markets, GANA will provide a special registration for the solar panel and GANA Energy Committee at $100. Registration may be completed online.

Arch Solar Command, Tamarac, Fla., will be the presenting sponsor of the GANA solar panel, according to the release