The United Nations has designated today, Dec. 5, International Volunteer Day, and while financial turmoil and recession news is dampening holiday spirits and people's aspirations, there are corporate leaders out there who recognize that in times like these civic minded actions and giving back to the communities that empower and support them is more critical than ever.
It's hard not to notice, generally speaking, the stark differences in cultures, personalities and characters of leading lights in the energy and IT industries, particularly when it comes to strategic planning, organizational management and R&D, and especially when it comes to public relations and thinking “outside the box”. The apparent contrasts stand out when it comes to developing renewable energy and clean technology for power generation and transportation.
Sulfurcell Headquarters photo courtesy of Sulfurcell.
It was only a few weeks ago when we learned that Intel was getting into solar hrough its Intel Capital division. Well, their solar investments continue once more. This time with a €24 million investment in Sulfurcell, a German thin-film solar developer and manufacturer using
image by Rae Allen
Computer chip maker Intel Corp. announced today that it would make a $50 million investment in solar energy through its Intel Capital division, forming a new company. The new venture, SpectraWatt Inc. will manufacture solar cells for distribution to solar panel manufacturers. Other investors in the company include Cogentrix Energy (a Goldman Sachs subsidiary), PCG Clean Energy and Technology Fund, and the German firm Solon....
Intel further detailed plans for its Atom processor at this year's Computex. The company is expecting the processor to create a whole new set of computers dubbed "netbooks" and "nettops," low-power systems that are primarily used for internet and other basic functions such as listening to music and word processing. "Netbooks" will be much smaller in terms of storage (2-4 GB) and screen size (7-10 inches) and priced around $250.
Intel Corp. released its 2007 Corporate Responsibility Report earlier today. Voluntarily reporting in conformance with the Global Reporting Initative’s Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, the report provides insight into Intel’s worldwide operations and facilities for the fiscal year just past, as well as an extended five years’ worth of historical performance data, compiled and reported so as to provide a better perspective of trends.
(This is a guest post by Bobby Grace)
Computers are becoming cheaper and easier to manufacture by the minute. Intel's new Atom processor is bound to create a whole new set of net-enabled devices at extremely low cost. While the processor is not out yet and prices are not set in stone, rumors price new "net-top" computers below $200.
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