Clean Tech Update 05.24.10

Thin film solar underdog MiaSole looks ahead to new plant, solar shingles (Earth2tech)

Thin film solar startup MiaSole was once the posterchild of the over-hype of the CIGS solar world. CIGS, which stands for the four materials that make up the solar cell (copper, indium, gallium, selenium) has for years been promised as the next generation of solar technology, has brought in billions of dollars in venture capital and government investment, and yet has delivered very little commercial product. At one point MiaSole's former CEO Dave Pearce reportedly predicted annual revenues of $100 million by the end of 2007 -- a ridiculous estimate in hindsight.

US Patent Office loosens rules for green tech (CNET)

The patent office announced Friday that it has changed the application process to attract more green technologies into an accelerated patent-review program. The Green Technology Pilot program was created in December to encourage more inventors to apply for patents relating to green technology. If accepted, those patent petitions will get priority screening under the one-year trial program.