PV enterprises unite to prove US DoC ruling as ?unwarranted?

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 16:03 (PV-Tech)

China?s Chamber of Commerce Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) has released details on why the US Department of Commerce?s preliminary determination is false and unwarranted. Read more

CPUC approves changes to California's net metering law

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 12:44 (Solarserver)

On May 24th, 2012 the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted unanimously to approve a ruling that will double the amount of solar photovoltaic (PV) and other distributed generation that can participate in the state's net metering program. The ruling clarifies the methodology for calculating the state's net metering cap, which was contested between utilities and solar advocates. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA, Washington D.C., U.S.) has praised the ruling. Read more

MiaSole reaches 15.5% aperture area efficiency with flexible CIGS module

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 9:03 (Solarserver)

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL, Golden, Colorado, U.S.) has confirmed that a flexible copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar photovoltaic (PV) module produced by MiaSole (Santa Clara, California, U.S.) has achieved a 15.5% aperture area efficiency. The 1.68 square meter module has set a world record for flexible PV technology, representing a more than 2% efficiency increase over the record of 13.4% efficiency for flexible PV, which was set earlier in 2012. Read more

Welspun wins bid to develop 125 MW PV project in India

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 8:58 (Solarserver)

Welspun Energy Ltd. (Mumbai, India) has won a bid to develop a 125 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. The company plans to build a 100 MW PV plant and a 25 MW PV plant. Welspun notes that this is the highest capacity solar project to be awarded to any Indian company to date. The company is one of four winning bidders for solar projects in the state, through an auction conducted on May 10th, 2012. Read more

UL certifies BYD inverter and enters strategic agreement to offer UL certification

Thursday, 5.24.2012 - 18:42 (PV-Tech)

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has entered a strategic agreement with BYD, the company has announced. The official ceremony inducting the agreement was attended by BYD Chairman and president Chuanfu Wang as well as UL vice president and general manager of the company?s global energy and industrial system department, Jeff Smidt. Under the agreement, BYD New Energy Monitoring Center will become a UL certified testing center. Read more

Suntech doesn?t expect industry profitability for another 6 to 12 months

Thursday, 5.24.2012 - 18:22 (PV-Tech)

Profitability remains tantalizingly elusive at Suntech Power Holdings, having reported a first quarter GAAP loss of US$133 million on the back of certain one-time issues, 27% lower quarterly shipments and 10% price declines. Although management stuck to previous guidance for the year, indicating strong shipments in the second-half of the year, analysts raised concerns over Suntech?s ability to repay a US$540 million convertible note due next year. A challenge for Suntech and the industry as a whole was that the entire supply chain was at best near breakeven and at worse loss making, something Suntech?s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Zhengrong Shi said would last Read more

DelSolar receives carbon footprint verification of solar cell and module products

Thursday, 5.24.2012 - 17:30 (PV-Tech)

DelSolar today announced it has completed carbon footprint verification of its high performance solar cell (D6PL) and solar module (D6P_A3A series) products. The assessment met British Standard Institution?s ?PAS 2050:2011 Product Carbon Footprint? specifications and the verification received the Reasonable Level of Assurance, the highest level for this certification. Read more

Conergy to supply 700 kW of PV modules for schools in Slovakia

Thursday, 5.24.2012 - 16:55 (Solarserver)

On May 22nd, 2012, Conergy AG (Hamburg, Germany) announced that it will supply 700 kilowatts (kW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for installation at 14 schools and municipal buildings in Slovakia. Conergy states that it will supply 2,500 PV modules, which will produce over 750,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of solar power a year. The company, which did not disclose financial details, will also supply 40 Conergy IPG T inverters. Read more

IFC, ADM Capital launch financing program for mid-sized Asian companies, including PV producers

Thursday, 5.24.2012 - 16:49 (Solarserver)

On May 22nd, 2012, International Finance Corp. (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced that it has teamed up with ADM Capital to launch an innovative lending facility for mid-sized Asian companies, including solar photovoltaic (PV) panel manufacturers. The Asia Secured Lending Facility provides a safety net for sound, but financially stressed, Asian midsize companies to save jobs as financing from European banks has dried up in the wake of the sovereign debt crisis, reads the press release. Read more

Sunways and SEA enter distribution agreement for Australia

Thursday, 5.24.2012 - 16:06 (PV-Tech)

Sunways has announced that it has entered into a partnership with Solar Energy Australia (SEA) to distribute Sunways inverters in Australia. In the partnership, SEA is the exclusive distributer of Sunways inverters in Australia as well as provider of customer service. Read more

What Is Holding Back Solar Hot Water in the US?

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 20:46 (Renewable Energy World)

Solar hot water has been a commercialized technology for many, many years now. It had its heyday back in the 1980s when it seemed like everyone was putting a system on his or her roof. Even my dad, the ultra-conservative New York City money manager put one on our house in Connecticut when I was a teenager. Unfortunately, however, the technology wa Read more

First Solar donates 250kW PV system to Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation?s Taliesin West campus

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 19:20 (PV-Tech)

First Solar has completed the installation of a 250kW solar PV system donated to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and installed at the Taliesin West campus. This marks the completion of the first phase of the Energizing Taliesin West initiative, which aims to transform the historic landmark into a ?net zero? energy customer. The PV system is expected to produce over 500MWh of electricity per year. Read more

Tonga?s first solar farm to be in full operation by August

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 19:03 (PV-Tech)

Tonga Power?s General Manager, John van Brink, advised that the country?s first solar farm is expected to be in full operation by August. Developed by Meridian Energy, the 1MW Popua Solar Farm is the first renewable power station for the Tonga and will provide around 4% of the energy requirements for the main island of Tongatapu. Read more

Politicians from Germany?s Green Party submit proposal for a solar program to be established in Iran

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 18:45 (PV-Tech)

Citing the potential destruction that a war with Iran would produce, Hans Josef Fell and Omid Nouripour have submitted a proposal to Germany?s Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, urging him to support the establishment of a solar program in Iran and the elimination of the country?s nuclear energy development. The document contends that Iran has an extensive supply of fossil fuels, but, further, that it has a large potential for renewable energies. Read more

CPUC passes new rule regarding net metering

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 18:01 (PV-Tech)

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted 5 to 0 on the passing of a new rule regarding net metering, chiefly to refine the calculation for California?s 5% net metering cap. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) worked with members and stakeholders as part of the Coalition for Solar Rights petitioning the CPUC to review the calculation of the cap, which is anticipated to be reached as early as next year by some utilities. The CPUC vote essentially clarified the net metering calculation while also calling for further studies into the process. Read more

UK Again Cuts Solar Feed-in Tariffs

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 17:55 (Renewable Energy World)

The UK government yesterday unveiled an overhaul of its solar feed-in tariffs. Read more

Solar Frontier to supply CIS modules for pilot PV project in Abu Dhabi

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 17:16 (Solarserver)

Solar Frontier K.K. (Tokyo, Japan) has announced that it will supply its copper indium gallium diselenide (CIS or CIGS) solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for a 36.4 kW pilot PV project to be located in Abu Dhabi, UAE. An opening ceremony for the project on May 22nd, 2012 for the plant was attended by Tatsuro Watanabe, Japan's Ambassador to the UAE. The project will be a joint project between oil refining company Takreer (Abu Dhabi, UAE) and the Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum, and will be constructed by Chiyoda Corporation (Yokohama, Japan). Read more

Solar shakeout: Flexcell thrown financial lifeline but production halted

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 17:14 (PV-Tech)

Swiss-based VHF-Technologies, better known under its product branding as Flexcell has stopped production of its flexible thin-film products and reduced its headcount to around 50. The move is designed to preserve cash, after being thrown a financial lifeline by Capricorn Capital to the tune of CHF8.5 million (US$8.9 million). Read more

eSolar partners with Sanmina-SCI to design concentrating solar power components

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 17:12 (Solarserver)

On May 23rd, 2012, eSolar (San Jaose, California, U.S.), a provider of modular, scalable concentrating solar power (CSP) plant technology, announced that it has teamed up with Sanmina-SCI (Burbank, California, U.S.), an integrated manufacturing services company, to design next-generation concentrated solar power (CSP) components for utility-scale power plants. Read more

Solar Shakeout: Oerlikon Solar customer Pramac files for insolvency

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 17:10 (PV-Tech)

Swiss silicon thin-film firm, Pramac has been forced to file for insolvency after shareholders rejected management proposals over restructuring the company after posting losses (net) of over ?94 million in 2011. The diversified firm had been a customer of Oerlikon Solar since 2008. Pramac had a 30MW end-to-end turnkey line using Oerlikon?s ?Micromorph?  technology. Read more

Sundrop Fuels, ThyssenKrupp Partner for 50 Million-Gallon Louisiana Drop-in Biofuels Project

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 17:54 (Renewable Energy World)

In Colorado, Sundrop Fuels announced a partnership with technology and engineering supplier ThyssenKrupp Uhde for what will be the nation's first bona fide commercial "green gasoline" production facility. Read more

The Forest's Treasure: A Profitable Solution to Woody Waste

Friday, 5.18.2012 - 15:19 (Renewable Energy World)

When forests are logged, managed or selectively trimmed so they'll be less susceptible to raging fires, there are usually huge piles of stumps, branches and other wood debris left laying on the ground. Now a group of researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle is developing a portable technology to turn these waste piles into treasure troves by converting them into biochar?charcoal made from plant material that can be burned for energy or applied to soils, where it helps plants grow. Read more

House Armed Services Committee Proposes Ban on Biofuels

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 18:35 (Renewable Energy World)

Just one month before the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) in Hawaii, the world's largest international maritime exercise, the biofuels industry has encountered a possible roadblock. The House Armed Services Committee issued its report on next year's Pentagon budget, which inclues a measure that would exclude the development and purchase of biofuels that cost more than traditional fossil fuels. Read more

Discovery of Plant Proteins May Boost Agricultural Yields and Biofuel Production

Tuesday, 5.15.2012 - 16:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Iowa State University discovered a family of plant proteins that play a role in the production of seed oils, substances important for animal and human nutrition, biorenewable chemicals and biofuels. Read more

The US Bioeconomy Blueprint: The 10 Minute Guide

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 15:21 (Renewable Energy World)

The Obama Administration recently released its long-awaited, historic strategic plan for the bioeconomy, and U.S. economic revival from advances in health sciences, agriculture, industrial biotechnology and advanced biofuels. No time to read the dense pages of the full report? Try our 10-Minute Guide, including links to the full report and a bonus look at the EU's bioeconomy strategy. Read more

Massachusetts Sets Strict Regulations for Biomass: Will This Influence Further Restrictions?

Monday, 5.7.2012 - 22:19 (Renewable Energy World)

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources released a new set of strict standards for biomass in early May that have the potential to cut subsidies for developing plants. According to these new requirements, all qualifying biomass plants must generate power at 50 percent efficiency to qualify for one-half Renewable Energy credit (REC) per MWh, and 60 percent for one full REC. These new standards are up from the previous 25 percent efficiency requirements. Plants will also be required to analyze lifecycle emissions to demonstrate at least 50 percent reductions over 20 years. Read more

Asia Report: European Ruling Could Cut Into Palm Oil Exports

Monday, 5.7.2012 - 17:19 (Renewable Energy World)

A looming decision that threatens to derail Europe's biofuels industry could reverberate all the way to Asia. Read more

Can We Reduce the Ecological Risks of Extended Bioenergy Production?

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

For years experts have discussed the ecological impact of the extended cultivation of energy crops. Scientists have now developed a computer model that allows assessing the impacts and comparing the effectiveness of strategies for the reduction of risks for biological diversity. Conclusion: The extension of bioenergy leads to problems to biological diversity in agrarian regions. With different accompanying measures, such as the conservation of near-nature areas, however, these effects could be partly reduced, as scientists of the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) write in the current issue of the professional Read more

AREVA to supply CSP technology for enhanced oil recovery

Wednesday, 4.25.2012 - 12:55 (Solarserver)

On April 24th, 2012 AREVA SA (Courbevoie, France) announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Technip SA (Courbevoie, France) covering work on concentrating solar power (CSP) solutions for oil and gas extraction. Through the MOU, AREVA will supply its compact linear Fresnel reflector (CLFR) CSP technology for enhanced oil recovery through steam injection. Technip will bring its project management experience in oil and gas-rich nations and markets to bring value to AREVA's operations and commercial initiatives. Read more

China Seeks to Promote Development of Biofuels Industry Despite Production Difficulties

Tuesday, 4.24.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

China seeks to promote the development of its biofuels industry through a series of supportive measures despite mass production difficulties. A spokesperson for the National Energy Bureau said that the Chinese government has set a goal of utilizing five million tons of ethanol fuel during the "12th Five-Year" period spanning 2011 to 2015, nearly double that set for the prior period (2006-2010). Read more

Gamesa Ousts Chief Executive

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 17:42 (Renewable Energy World)

Spanish wind turbine manufacturer Gamesa has ousted chief executive Jorge Calvert after the company's market value fell 89 per cent while he was in charge. Read more

AMSC's 100-MW Wind Deal: New Life After Sinovel

Thursday, 5.24.2012 - 21:47 (Renewable Energy World)

Massachusetts-based American Superconductor, which is embroiled in a bitter dispute with Chinese wind manufacturer Sinovel, has reached a 100-megawatt (MW) deal with growing Indian turbine maker Inox in a move that may spur renewed interest from investors. Read more

Saving Birds and Bucks: Wind States Its Case

Wednesday, 5.23.2012 - 18:46 (Renewable Energy World)

Who says bipartisanism is dead in America? Look at the wind industry ? which is struggling to save the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and the tens of thousands of jobs that have been created because it ? and you'll see alliances coalescing around both sides of the issue. Read more

There's Something To Be Said for Having the Right Kind of Singular Focus

Monday, 5.21.2012 - 18:24 (Renewable Energy World)

Construction at the Youngs Creek powerhouse near Sultan, Wash., was moving along just fine when the day came to install the facility’s turbine. But there was one problem: It wouldn’t fit through the door. The casing on the turbine was too wide, and there was no way to reposition it to squeeze it in. (Left: The Young's Creek powerhouse Read more

Offshore Wind: Making an American Industry, Part 2

Monday, 5.14.2012 - 9:48 (Renewable Energy World)

In the choppy seas of American offshore wind development, calm waters are often followed by stormy skies. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Mid-Atlantic waters off Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. All three states have made some strides in the growing industry, but the path has been anything but clear. Read more

Offshore Wind: Making an American Industry, Part 1

Friday, 5.11.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Positioned between the affluent of Martha's Vineyard to the east and the well-heeled of The Hamptons to the west, Block Island has always been more of a casual paradise, a place for blue collar workers to make summertime memories and sea-loving residents to enjoy the solitude of the other three seasons. Read more

Latin America Report: Work Starts on Chile's Largest Wind Farm

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 18:59 (Renewable Energy World)

Construction has begun on what will become Chile's largest wind farm, a 115-megawatt development in the Antofagasta region in the northern part of the country. Read more

Gamesa Scraps Wind Project Off Virginia Coast

Monday, 5.7.2012 - 19:01 (Renewable Energy World)

Rather than becoming the first American offshore wind turbine to achieve "wet steel," a landmark single prototype project planned off the coast of Virginia has instead dried up in another setback for the young industry. Read more

Managing the Wind

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

With nearly 47,000 MW of wind power capacity in the U.S. and more than 8,000 MW expected to go online in 2012, wind power's rapid growth poses a tremendous challenge for utilities and grid managers charged with managing a growing source of intermittent electricity. Read more

Congress Needs to Pass PTC Extension ? Soon

Wednesday, 5.2.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

In February and March, the United States Congress struck a blow to domestic alternative energy production, which is already resulting in stalled economic growth and job losses. Congress missed a chance to extend the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind power generation. While a PTC extension could still appear as stand-alone legislation or tied to another bill, it's imperative that such a move happens soon. PTC, an income tax credit of 2.2 cents per kilowatt-hour for wind turbine electricity production, is essential for tens of thousands of American jobs, as well as the continued success of domestic green energy generation. Read more

Chinese Ministry of Commerce determines U.S. state policies violate trade laws; SEIA, Chinese trade group call for dialogue

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 12:31 (Solarserver)

In what is widely seen as retaliation for the recent U.S. Department of Commerce ruling, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has issued a preliminary determination that six U.S. state-level renewable policy supports violate global trade rules. The Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA, Washington D.C., U.S.) has issued a statement calling for dialogue, and both SEIA and EuPD Research (Bonn, Germany) have warned of potential damage to the global solar industry from a trade war. SEIA's statement comes shortly after SolarWorld Industries Inc. (Hillsboro, Oregon, U.S.) publicly criticized SEIA's stance on potential U.S. tariffs. Read more

Exploring the Reasons behind Dam Removal

Monday, 5.7.2012 - 12:58 (Renewable Energy World)

For many dams currently being removed in the U.S., the primary reason behind this work is the need to protect fish and restore their habitat. This article provides case studies of the removals under way and the context under which these decisions were made. Read more

Major construction work commences at 550MW Topaz project

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 11:54 (PV-Tech)

MidAmerican and First Solar have announced the beginning of major construction work on the site of the 550MW Topaz Solar Farm in San Luis Obispo County, California. Both companies congregated about the construction schedule as well as environmental issues and future plans to involve communities and private landowners in the project. Read more

NRG, First Solar and MidAmerican Solar connect 100MW to the grid in Arizona

Thursday, 4.26.2012 - 12:59 (PV-Tech)

NRG Energy, First Solar and MidAmerican Solar representatives gathered to connect the first 100MW of the 290MW Agua Caliente Solar Project to the grid. The project is owned by NRG Energy and MidAmerican, while operator First Solar designed and constructed the plant in Yuma County, Arizona, using thin-film modules. During the event, company representatives answered questions and tours of the site were given. Once completed, Agua Caliente will be the largest solar power plant in North America. The generated energy is sold to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company under a long-term PPA. Read more

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research: Weather records are the result of climate change

Sunday, 4.1.2012 - 10:38 (Solarserver)

The past decade has been one of unprecedented weather extremes. Scientists of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in Germany argue that the high incidence of extremes is not merely accidental. At least for extreme rainfall and heat waves the link with human-caused global warming is clear, the scientists show in a new analysis of scientific evidence in the journal Nature Climate Change. Less clear is the link between warming and storms, despite the observed increase in the intensity of hurricanes. Read more

The Power of the Dammed: How Small Hydro Could Rescue America's Dumb Dams

Wednesday, 3.28.2012 - 17:02 (Renewable Energy World)

When early 20th century engineers designed America's dams, they only imagined a few key uses like boat navigation, capturing water for crops, or creating a great place to catch bass. Nary a thought was given to how desperately future generations might need all the clean hydropower that dams are capable of producing. In fact, of the 80,000 dams in the country, only three percent currently create electricity. Read more

Hydropower's Devices Beyond Dams

Friday, 3.23.2012 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Compared to other renewable energy technologies, the sheer multiplicity of wave, tidal and hydrokinetic power devices indicates that the potential for generating power from the world's oceans and rivers is considerable. There are more than 100 different marine and hydrokinetic devices currently being developed, tested and deployed by various companies, according to a recent Pike Research report, and the Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition estimates that as much as 10 percent of U.S. power needs could be met from these unconventional hydropower resources. Read more

Claude Lambert of Alstom Hydro North America: The State of North American Hydropower

Thursday, 3.8.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Claude Lambert, president and chief executive officer of Alstom Hydro North America, discusses technology, policy and the factors driving the hydropower market. Read more

The Interview: Claude Lambert of Alstom Hydro North America

Thursday, 3.8.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Claude Lambert, president and chief executive officer of Alstom Hydro North America, discusses technology, policy and the factors driving the hydropower market. Read more

Interview: Claude Lambert of Alstom Hydro North America

Thursday, 3.8.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Claude Lambert, president and chief executive officer of Alstom Hydro North America, discusses technology, policy and the factors driving the hydropower market. Read more

AC Transit starts fueling buses with hydrogen made from solar-powered electrolysis

Tuesday, 4.17.2012 - 21:33 (Solarserver)

On April 13th, 2012, AC Transit (Emeryville, California, U.S.) and a coalition of regional transit partners serving 7 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area announced the newest hydrogen production and dispensing station in Emeryville to fuel the latest generation of zero-emission fuel cell buses operating throughout the region. The hydrogen to fuel the fleet is produced in part by solar-powered electrolysis. Read more

Air Products expands hydrogen selenide capacity at Hometown, PA facility

Friday, 3.30.2012 - 12:30 (PV-Tech)

Air Products has completed and brought onstream its hydrogen selenide (H2Se) facility expansion at its electronic specialty materials manufacturing facility in Hometown, PA, USA. The newly expanded high-purity H2Se facility will serve the growing demand from the CIGS market for the compound, which is provided by Air Products to semiconductor and PV customers at more than 99.99% purity levels. Read more

DOE Offers $6 Million for Fuel Cell EV Data Collection

Thursday, 3.8.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

DOE announced on March 1 that up to $6 million will be available this year to collect and analyze valuable performance and durability data for light-duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Projects selected will gather data from next-generation FCEVs as they are operated in real-world conditions. The goal is to identify ways to lower costs, improve fuel cell durability, and increase overall vehicle performance. Read more

Germany Invests in Hydrogen Technology for Renewable Storage, Vehicles

Monday, 2.6.2012 - 21:20 (Renewable Energy World)

The tanks look like they could hold propane, gasoline or any other form of conventional energy. Read more

Production of renewable hydrogen and natural gas with solar power: HyperSolar featured at Discovery News

Friday, 1.6.2012 - 15:09 (Solarserver)

On December 30th, 2012, HyperSolar Inc. (Santa Barbara, California, U.S.) announced that its new technology has been featured on DiscoveryNews.com, a leading news outlet owned by Discovery Communications LLC. In its article, titled ?Company touts alternative to fracking to extract natural gas,? the news outlets examines HyperSolar?s process to produce renewable hydrogen using the sun and waste water. Read more

Order Focus: Praxair wins hydrogen supply contact to Hemlock?s new polysilicon plant

Friday, 7.8.2011 - 13:38 (PV-Tech)

Hemlock Semiconductor?s new polysilicon plant, currently under construction in Clarksville, Tennessee, USA has signed a multi-year contract with Praxair, which will supply hydrogen to the facility. Praxair said it would build and operate an on-site hydrogen generating facility and supply liquid hydrogen by truck. The plant start-up is scheduled for 2012, according to Praxair. Praxair also supplies nitrogen and hydrogen to Hemlock?s polysilicon facility in Hemlock, Michigan. Read more

Scientists at ZSW develop single-tool flexible CIGS PV cell deposition approach

Thursday, 5.26.2011 - 0:25 (PV-Tech)

Scientists at the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) have developed what they believe to be a breakthrough approach for the continuous roll-to-roll processing of CIGS thin film solar cells on plastic film. The Stuttgart-based team has devised a manufacturing scheme in which the main coating steps take place in a single system, claiming 10.2% conversion efficiencies on cells made using this prototype tool. Read more

Order Focus: BTU International wins multiple hydrogen annealing furnaces order

Thursday, 4.28.2011 - 14:11 (PV-Tech)

A major Asian solar cell manufacturer has placed an order for multiple hydrogen annealing furnaces from BTU International after the customer experienced a significant increase in absolute cell efficiency using the technology especially on Class B cells during an evaluation period. Read more

$74 Million in Fuel Cell R&D Funding Offered by DoE

Wednesday, 12.22.2010 - 20:41 (Renewable Energy World)

Read more

Expansion Media Adds 17 New Cleantech Clients in 2010

Tuesday, 12.14.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Expansion Media, one of the leading public relations firms focusing exclusively on the cleantech world, has announced its acquisition of 17 new cleantech clients during the year of 2010. Expansion Media's clients represent a broad spectrum of the diverse sectors within the world of cleantech, including solar, wind, biogas, fuel cells, urban agriculture, energy efficiency, and wastewater treatment. Read more

49.9-MW Hudson Ranch I Geothermal Plant Unveiled in California

Friday, 5.18.2012 - 22:04 (Renewable Energy World)

EnergySource hosted the unveiling of its 49.9 Hudson Ranch I geothermal plant, now renamed John L. Featherstone Plant ? a geothermal innovator in the Salton Sea area, today in Imperial Valley, California. Commissioned on March 9th, it is the first geothermal plant to go online in the Salton Sea area in 20 years. Recognizing the area's huge potential capacity of reportedly up to two gigawatts, EnergySource expects to start drilling for its 49.9 Hudson Ranch II project this summer and hopes to start construction in 2013. Read more

EGS Takes Geothermal Global

Wednesday, 5.16.2012 - 15:15 (Renewable Energy World)

As ancient as the earth itself, unharnessed geothermal energy most often bubbles to the surface in geological hot spots long known for geysers and naturally-boiling mud pots. Read more

How the U.S. Geothermal Market Is and Is Not Growing

Thursday, 5.10.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Apparently little happened in the way of new, operational geothermal plants in 2011, if you look at the Geothermal Energy Association's 2012 annual Power Production and Development report. Although the United States remains in the lead globally in terms of installed capacity with 3,187 MW, only 91 MW of additional capacity came on line last year (not subtracting for replaced capacity). And nearly 50 MW of this additional installed capacity was at a single plant: the Hudson Ranch 1 in California. Read more

Enel Flips Solar Switch at Cogeneration Plant, Starts Geothermal Work in Utah

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 18:52 (Renewable Energy World)

The world's first solar-geothermal power plant was commissioned last week in Stillwater, Nevada with the completion of a 24-MW solar PV plant developed by Enel Green Power. It is strategically positioned next to Enel's existing 60-MW geothermal plant to increase power production and resource predictability. Read more

Low-Temperature Geothermal: Digging for Its Vast Opportunity

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 18:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The geothermal industry recognizes the need for innovation. Halley Dickey of TAS Energy, Karl Gawell of GEA (Geothermal Energy Association), and Doug Glaspey of U.S. Geothermal Inc. expressed the crucial importance of research and development in the geothermal industry during a conference call last month. Most experts have their sights set on the vast potential of and innovative use of low-temperature geothermal resources. Quotes from the conference call follow. Read more

UK In Talks with Iceland to Establish Geothermal Interconnector

Wednesday, 5.9.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Iceland may soon spread its vast wealth of geothermal energy to the UK. But how can two islands separated by more than 1,000 km of ocean share electricity? The answer lies in undersea high-voltage cables. Read more

Unlocking the Gigawatts of Geothermal Power in Kenya

Tuesday, 4.24.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Two companies leading in geothermal power exploration in Kenya have signed multimillion deals with development partners giving a major boost to the country's prospects of realizing clean, reliable energy to power the country's development. Read more

Interconnectivity and the Grid: More Power to Clean Energies

Wednesday, 4.18.2012 - 15:19 (Renewable Energy World)

As the nation looks to the sun for alternatives to conventional fossil fuels for generating power, the electrical grid is being seen by policymakers in a significant new light. Improving interconnectivity of the electrical grid infrastructure has the potential to accelerate the advancement of renewable energies ? solar, wind and geothermal ? into the nation's mainstream power supply. The problem, however, is that a good portion of these abundant and unlimited resources are generated in remote markets that make transmission to the nation's electrical grids for distribution and storage to the benefit of massive populations ambiguous, at best. Read more

Geothermal Industry Report Shows Growth, Potential and Frustration

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 23:05 (Renewable Energy World)

Though the geothermal industry faces many hurdles including uncertain federal policies and lengthy project timelines, the Geothermal Energy Association announced last week that it added 91 MW of newly installed U.S. capacity in the past year. With this addition, the U.S. now has a total of 3,177 MW of capacity, which far outpaces the rest of the world. Read more

Latin America Report: Geothermal Gaining Steam in Chile

Wednesday, 3.28.2012 - 17:39 (Renewable Energy World)

Enel Green Power announced this week that it has been awarded three more geothermal exploration concessions in Chile, moving it closer to opening up one of the world's most abundant geothermal resources. Read more

Stanford announces certificate program in renewable energy

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 17:02 (Solarserver)

Stanford University (California, U.S.) has introduced a new professional certificate program in renewable energy. The online program, Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies, explores emerging technologies that can transform distribution and storage of energy. Read more

Expert chair appointed to the Energy Efficiency Deployment Office

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 16:08 (Solarpowerportal)

The Energy Efficiency Deployment Office (EEDO) has appointed Peter Boyd as Expert Chair. Boyd is currently the CEO for Carbon War Room, an independent global, non-profit that seeks to accelerate entrepreneurial solutions to profitable, ?gigaton-scale? reduction in carbon emissions. Read more

Sandia Releases Web Tool to Evaluate Energy Storage Options

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Sandia National Laboratories and the Department of Energy have released a new tool to help utilities, developers and regulators identify the energy storage options that best meet their needs. Partnering with DNV KEMA, a global testing and consulting firm, Sandia is releasing Energy Storage Select, or ES-Select, software under a public license to t Read more

DECC?s deployment projection drops to 11.9GW by 2020

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 12:28 (Solarpowerportal)

Yesterday, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) lifted the lid on its long-awaited consultation over solar feed-in tariffs. The Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Greg Barker set out proposals that, he said, provide ?a strong, sustainable foundation for growth for the solar industry.? Read more

Chinese Ministry of Commerce releases retaliatory statement against US anti-dumping determination

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 12:27 (PV-Tech)

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has identified six renewable energy initiatives in the US that the Chinese government believes is flouting World Trade Organization (WTO) rules on subsidies and countervailing measures in addition to the 1994 GATT Agreement. Read more

Bella Energy completes 1.65MW installation in Salt Lake City

Friday, 5.25.2012 - 11:08 (PV-Tech)

Bella Energy has completed a 1.65MW PV installation, the company has announced. The rooftop installation is mounted onto the roof of the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City and currently the biggest PV installation in the state of Utah. Read more

Latin America Report: Brazil's Earth Summit Gathering to Address Key Energy Issues

Thursday, 5.24.2012 - 18:54 (Renewable Energy World)

The timing couldn't be better as Rio de Janeiro puts the finishing touches on Earth Summit 2012, dubbed "Rio+20" because it marks two decades since the city hosted the inaugural event that was credited with breakthrough agreements. Read more

MiaSolé sets flexible PV efficiency world record at 15.5%

Thursday, 5.24.2012 - 18:35 (PV-Tech)

The US Department of Energy?s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has confirmed a 15.5% aperture area efficiency on commercial size flexible PV module (total area 1.68m2) from thin-film manufacturer MiaSolé. MiaSolé?s record represents over 2 points of improvement compared to the previous world record for flexible PV of 13.4% set earlier this year by SoloPower. Read more

Another Volley as US-China Trade Battle Intensifies

Thursday, 5.24.2012 - 16:40 (Renewable Energy World)

China's Ministry of Commerce on Thursday said that after a months-long investigation it has ruled that the United States government broke World Trade Organization rules by supporting six renewable energy projects through unfair grants. Read more

S&P Opines on Securitizing Distributed Generation

Thursday, 5.24.2012 - 15:32 (Renewable Energy World)

Renewable energy-related asset securitization has been gaining a lot of traction lately as a number of key stakeholders from both the private and public sectors have been stepping up their collaborative efforts. To help frame the discussion and facilitate the creation of ratings-quality renewable energy asset pools, Standard and Poor's (S&P) rating agency has recently produced high-level guidance on various possible risk factors in the potential securitization of renewable energy assets, cash flows, or loans. Read more

Solar car hits the road on annual tour of Alberta

Friday, 5.4.2012 - 13:29 (Solarserver)

University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) announced that its solar-powered car, Schulich Axiom, will hit the highway in Alberta for the first time since the World Solar Challenge in Australia last October. Members of the university?s solar team will visit communities and schools in the province as part of their third annual tour of Alberta. Read more

Report: Electric Cars Cost Less, But Watch the Assumptions

Tuesday, 5.1.2012 - 15:27 (Renewable Energy World)

Pike Research just released a report on the Total Cost of Ownership of Alternative Fuel Vehicles for Fleet Operators. The report compares the purchase price plus lifetime fuel cost of mid-sized cars available in the US. Read more

Xtreme Power Guns For Electric Car, Neighborhood Energy Storage Markets

Wednesday, 4.11.2012 - 21:10 (Renewable Energy World)

Xtreme Power, which has shown considerable success in selling its energy storage systems and services to utilities, is now eyeing the electric car market and developing not just a battery system for it but the entire drivetrain. Read more

2MW solar carports, EV charging station project unveiled in City of Industry, California

Monday, 4.9.2012 - 23:45 (PV-Tech)

The City of Industry, California, unveiled the completed 2MW solar project at the Metrolink Public Transportation Station, which consists of solar PV carports and EV charging stations. Oltmans Construction helped install the solar PV carports on an existing parking lot, which will directly provide electricity to the grid, helping to power the 64 EV charging stations also installed on the site. The project was, in part, made possible by a 20-year PPA with Southern California Edison. Read more

University helps predict the impact of electric vehicles

Wednesday, 3.28.2012 - 11:28 (Solarpowerportal)

Northumbria University has developed a formula to help predict the impact electric vehicles (EV) will have on the national grid. The new formula was developed as a collaborative effort between the University and the Charge your Car project, a Government programme that is overseeing the rollout of over 1,000 electric car charging points across the North East. Read more

Nissan, ABB to evaluate second-life storage applications for Nissan LEAF battery packs

Saturday, 1.21.2012 - 17:59 (Solarserver)

On January 18th, 2012, Nissan North America Inc. (Franklin, Tennessee, US) announced that it teamed up with ABB, 4R Energy (Yokohama, Japan) and Sumitomo Corp. of America (New York City, New York, US) to evaluate the reuse of lithium-ion battery packs that power the Nissan LEAF, an all-electric car designed for the mass market. Read more

Tokai University wins 3,000 km Australian solar car race

Monday, 10.24.2011 - 13:08 (Solarserver)

On Thursday, October 20th, 2011 Tokai University's (Tokyo, Japan) vehicle arrived as the first to cross the finish line in Adelaide, Australia, at the conclusion of a five-day, 3,000 km solar-powered car race across Australia. Tokai University was followed by the Nuon Solar Car Team (Netherlands) in second place and the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan) in third place for the completion of the Veolia World Solar Challenge. This is the second consecutive victory for Tokai University at the race, which was last held in 2009. Read more

GE Energy inks OEM agreement with Inovateus Solar to build solar carport charging stations

Saturday, 10.8.2011 - 23:01 (Solarserver)

On October 5th, 2011, GE Energy Industrial Solutions (Toronto, Canada) announced that it has reached an original equipment manufacturer agreement with Inovateus Solar LLC (South Bend, Ind.) to build new solar carports with electric vehicle (EV) chargers. GE Energy Industrial Solutions collaborated with Inovateus this year to build a 100-kWh solar carport, one of the largest structures of its kind in North America, at its facility in Plainville, Conn. Read more

It's Time to Kill the Car Culture, Drive a Stake Through Its Heart, and Electrify Mobility

Friday, 9.16.2011 - 16:38 (Renewable Energy World)

My friend and colleague John Petersen has it in for the electric car. Recently he wrote a summary of his anti-electric car views, entitled "It's Time to Kill the Electric Car, Drive a Stake Through its Heart and Burn the Corpse." Did I mention he also has a flair for the dramatic? Read more

NREL Researchers Prove the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility in Electric Drive

Thursday, 9.15.2011 - 22:34 (Renewable Energy World)

In the most under-reported cleantech story of the year, researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have used an impressive array of computational and modeling tools to prove that the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility, which holds that the first unit of consumption of a good or service yields more utility than the second and subsequent units, doesn't have a loophole for plug-in vehicles. Read more