CyberOptics optical alignment systems to be used in DEK?s ?Eclipse? metallization line

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 17:59 (PV-Tech)

Having collaborated together in the SMT electronics market, CyberOptics and DEK are to use CyberOptics CWA30 optical alignment systems in DEK Solar’s new Eclipse metallization line. The alignment system improves print precision, which boosts cell efficiency by shadowing less of the solar cell surface. This is becoming increasingly important for the migration to shallow and selective emitter processes. Read more

Thailand: 4,300 MW of Renewables with Feed-in Tariffs

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Since the introduction of its small power program in 2006, Thailand has signed contracts to develop 4,300 MW of renewable generation. Nearly half of the contracts--1,800 MW--are for solar energy alone. Read more

Project Focus: Q-Cells delivers pair of 10MW plants in Ontario, three more added to pipeline

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 4:15 (PV-Tech)

Q-Cells North America said it has successfully delivered two 10MW solar power plants in Ontario and has been awarded deals for engineering, procurement, and construction on three additional system installations. Private investment firm Starwood Energy Global Group worked with Q-Cells on the projects. Read more

Sovello to begin production of solar modules in Ontario with AS Solar acting as distributer

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 3:15 (PV-Tech)

Sovello will be starting its Ontario-based production of its Project Pro module. The company did not disclose where in Ontario the production facility will be located or if it intends to partner with a contract manufacturer, but did state that production in the first quarter of 2011 will be in limited quantities, with 2MW per month anticipated for the rest of 2011. Read more

Suss MicroTec and Rolith to develop next-generation PV using nanolithography technology

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 3:05 (PV-Tech)

Suss MicroTec and Rolith have come together to use Rolith’s disruptive nanolithography method in order to develop and construct nanostructuring equipment. Rolith’s nanolithography technology uses near-field optical lithography with cylindrically shaped rolling masks. Sub-wavelength resolution is reached by a phase-interference effect or plasmonic enhancement printing structures. Rolith advises that a continued operation yields a high throughput with low cost production. Read more

MX Solar installs 3S Modultec production line

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 18:59 (PV-Tech)

MX Solar has installed an integrated 3S Modultec production line at its U.S. facility in New Jersey. The 65MW plant will produce crystalline solar modules for both the American and European markets. Read more

Evergreen Solar in bid to reduce debt

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 14:13 (PV-Tech)

Loss-making and highly leveraged Evergreen Solar is to attempt a detailed financial recapitalization to reduce the company’s outstanding indebtedness and annual interest expense, while raising US$40 million. A 1-for-6 reverse stock split has also been approved as well as an increase in shares of common stock from 120 million to 240 million. Evergreen Solar said it planned to hold a Special Meeting of stockholders in early 2011 to gain support for the recapitalization plan. Read more

Project Focus: Skyline Solar to deploy two 100KW demo systems on U.S. military bases

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 14:01 (PV-Tech)

In another example of the Pentagon’s strong commitment to deploying renewable energy, Skyline Solar has been awarded a project by the U.S. Department of Defense for the installation of its PV systems at two military bases in the U.S. southwest. The object of the $1.58 million project is to demonstrate Skyline Solar’s high-gain solar (HGS) performance in hot and sunny climates, and validate its field upgradability and rapid system deployment capability. Read more

Solectria Renewables SmartGrid Inverters Achieve the Highest CEC Efficiency in the Solar Industry

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Lawrence, MA ? December 7, 2010 ? Solectria Renewables, LLC, the leading U.S. PV inverter manufacturer, announced today that its SmartGrid Inverters (SGI) 225kW, 250kW, 266kW and 300kW inverters have achieved 97.5% CEC efficiency ? the highest CEC efficiency in the industry. The SGI Family has the lowest nighttime tare loss in the industry. Solectria Renewables' SGI series are the 1st inverters with integrated transformers to achieve efficiencies higher than 97%. Read more

Sol Systems Unveils Utility-Backed Solar SREC Financing Option in MA

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Sol Systems, the nation's largest solar renewable energy credit (SREC) aggregator, today announced a new three year fixed-rate SREC financing option that will help make solar a more attractive investment for Massachusetts residents and businesses. Read more

Changing What Solar Power Looks Like

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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Roof-Ready PV Solar Installer Training

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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Rich Hessler releases Roof-Ready PV Solar Installer Training

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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Project Focus: NextEra Energy prepares procurement for 40MW of solar PV projects from First Solar

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 3:15 (PV-Tech)

NextEra Energy Resources, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, is in the process of purchasing four solar PV projects, totaling 40MW from First Solar. First Solar will continue with the development of the Sombra and Moore Solar Energy Centers, using their own thin-film solar modules and upon the projects reaching an operational state, NextEra’s Canadian subsidiary, NextEra Energy Canada, will assume full ownership and operation of the four projects. Read more

Project Focus: Solar Power Partners and JCM Capital launch fund for 200MW of Ontario solar projects

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 3:15 (PV-Tech)

Solar Power Partners and JCM Capital have joined forced for the creation of a fund that will develop, finance, own and operate 200MW of Ontario-based solar projects. Although the amount of the dedicated fund was undisclosed, the two companies have already started 20MW of projects, which will begin construction in 2011. Read more

Solarfun granted UL certification on polycrystalline module

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 3:15 (PV-Tech)

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has imparted their certification on Solarfun Power Holdings’ SF260 polycrystalline module. After extensive testing, UL confirmed that the module meets all the safety, environmental and performance requirements mandated to achieve certification. The SF260 module is applicable for both residential and commercial installations. Read more

The 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy for 2010-11

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

In Florida, renewable fuels and chemicals developer Amyris took the #1 spot in the 2010-11 "50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy" rankings, published today in Biofuels Digest, the online daily bioenergy news service. Read more

POET ranks #3 in 'Hottest Companies in Bioenergy'

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

POET, the world's largest grain ethanol producer and a leader in cellulosic ethanol development, has been ranked #3 in the Biofuels Digest "Hottest Companies in Bioenergy," the publication announced today. Read more

Maryland Citizens Want Offshore Wind

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Last week the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) held the first "Maryland Citizen's Conference on Offshore Wind Power" in Annapolis, the state's capital. The conference was sponsored by a wide variety of environmental groups as well as United Steelworkers, speaking highly of the diversity of groups interested in the development of offshore wind in the U.S. Read more

Praxair China signs long-term contract with Beijing Jin Jing

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

Praxair China has signed a long-term contract with Beijing Jin Jing to supply on-site industrial gases for its Low-Emissivity (Low-E) oxy-fuel float glass production lines. Praxair will be responsible for building an air separation unit, two vacuum pressure swing adsorption plants and a steam methane reforming plant to help cater for Jin Jing?s oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen requirements. The systems are scheduled to be operational before Q2 2011. Read more

IDC Energy Insights expects over 2GW of PV installations in North America in 2011

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Market research firm, IDC Energy Insights expects approximately 1GW of PV installations in North America in 2010, while doubling to more than 2GW next year. Financing models such as solar leasing and power purchase agreements (PPAs) to residential and commercial property owners are expected to continue to thrive as they increase participation in the solar PV market, according to the market research firm. Read more

Global Renewable Energy Developer Expands Use of Second Wind's Advanced Sodar Technology for Wind Measurement

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Renewable Energy Systems (RES), one of the world's leading renewable energy developers and constructors, recently deployed a third Triton Sonic Wind Profiler for wind resource assessment. Since its founding in 1982, RES has been at the forefront of the wind industry and is one of the fastest growing renewable energy companies in the world. RES Americas started in North America in 1997, and since then has either developed and/or built more than 10 percent of the installed wind capacity in the United States. Read more

Can "Electrofuels" be a Source of Green Energy Storage?

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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During COP16, a Plea for 'Policy Pragmatism' in the U.S.

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Last year's failed COP15 conference was a big blow to the climate advocacy community: In a period of weeks, hopes for an international agreement crashed and burned, leaving people wondering if any kind of movement would come. Shortly after, it became clear that the U.S. Congress wouldn't pass a climate bill, further dimming prospects for action. Read more

FREE: #1 Best Selling Amazon "Energy" Book

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Author Craig Shields makes available his best-selling energy book as a free download. The book is based on interviews with 25 of the world's top researchers, authors, analysts and industry leaders. A surprisingly large percentage of these experts point to these "tough realities" that exist in the technology migration, the economic implications, and the political issues that affect the world energy industry. Says Shields, "The truth is, the energy industry faces tough realities in several forms, not only technology readiness, but more importantly the pushback from powerful vested interests." Read more

Alice in EVland Part II; The Hall Of Mirrors

Tuesday, 12.7.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

On November 22nd the EPA issued an official fuel economy sticker for Nissan's (NSANY.PK) Leaf that shows an impressive electric drive equivalence of 99 MPG. Two days later it issued an official fuel economy sticker for General Motor's (GM) Volt that shows a comparable electric drive equivalence of 93 MPG, a gasoline drive fuel economy of 37 MPG and a combined equivalence of 60 MPG. Read more