Solar power poses a major challenge for energy use during night period, as it requires expensive batteries or other forms of storage to provide round-the-clock power.

To overcome this problem, AORA, an Israeli energy company, has come up with novel idea of hybrid solar power stations, which combines traditional fuel such as biomass or diesel with low-carbon solar power during daylight, to generate uninterrupted electricity.

AORA is constructing its first hybrid solar power station on a half-acre (0.2 hectare) plot in Israel’s Negev desert, where companies are competing to create more efficient technologies and tap into the multi-billion dollar clean energy market.

The company said the cost of the electricity is competitive with other solar technologies: between$3,500-$5,000 per installed kilowatt, meaning each 100 kw hybrid plant may cost up to $500,000. Total production costs depend on the price of the external fuel.

This step has been welcomed by energy expert though some experts have expressed their reservations.

A new report by RNCOS indicates that wind power installation is rapidly increasing in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and has posted a stupendous growth rate of more than 127% by end of 2007. With this enormous growth, the Chinese wind power industry is expected to soon leave India behind, the largest wind power industry in Asia.

Chinese government is providing a growth platform for domestic players by mandating the use of at least 70% components sourced from the domestic market in wind power projects that gives sufficient opportunities for further growth to domestic turbine market. As more and more domestic players will go for wing turbine installation, its cost will drop significantly in future due to high price competition, says RNCOS report.