KACO to start US production in Q1 2011

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

KACO new energy, one of the world's largest inverter manufacturers - with over 2GW of PV inverters in the field to date ? will begin full-scale production of the blueplanet inverter line in San Jose, California. Read more

Sustainable Energy moves inverter assembly to Ontario; expects 4MW inverter production by Q1 2011

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 0:10 (PV-Tech)

Sustainable Energy Technologies announced that it will be moving its North American inverter assembly and test center to Guelph, Ontario, with an expected 4MW per month production of its Sunergy inverters by the first quarter 2011. Melitron, a Guelph based manufacturer, will run the facility and also provide enclosures for the Sunergy inverter. Read more

SPI 2010: 3M to ramp flexible thin-film solar barrier film

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 15:22 (PV-Tech)

Citing a growing demand for high-efficiency flexible PV modules in the market, 3M will expand production of its ‘Ultra Barrier Solar Film,’ which is specifically designed for flexible thin-film substrates fabricated in roll-to-roll processes. The majority of the facility expansion, located in Columbia, Missouri, is scheduled to be completed in 2011. Read more

SPI 2010: 3M to ramp flexible thin film solar barrier film

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 15:15 (PV-Tech)

Citing a growing demand for high efficiency flexible PV modules in the market, 3M is to expand production of its ‘Ultra Barrier Solar Film,’ which is specifically designed for flexible thin film solar substrates fabricated in roll-to-roll processes. The majority of the facility expansion, located in Columbia, Missouri, is scheduled to be completed in 2011. Read more

Solarfun to spend US$130 million to increase capacity in 2011

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

In an effort to further reduce its manufacturing cost structures, Solarfun is planning to spend approximately US$130 million to boost capacity of its wafering and cell production to become more integrated. The company expects to construct additional buildings, facilities and infrastructure, especially for its ingot and wire saw operations in 2011. The capital expenditure is being financed by the recent equity injection from the Hanwha Group, as well as net cash flow from operations and cash in hand.   Read more

Sunways partners with LDK Solar for module supply

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 13:47 (PV-Tech)

In a quasi-OEM module agreement, LDK Solar will be supplying 30MW of c-Si modules using Sunways own solar cells in an effort to offer greater choice of competitive products to its distribution partners. Sunways said that the supply agreement was for one-year but expected to extend the contract in the future. The first solar modules from the new partnership will be available in the market within a few weeks. Read more

Order Focus: Meyer Burger to supply wire saws for Asia-based customer

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 13:27 (PV-Tech)

An Asia-based solar wafer customer is planning further manufacturing capacity expansion in 2011 using wire saw machines from Meyer Burger. The new order is valued at CHF 30 million. Meyer Burger said that the order would secure the manufacturing of high quality solar wafers with the entire equipment set scheduled to be delivered during fiscal year 2011. Read more

Order Focus; Meyer Burger to supply wire saws for Asia-based customer

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

An Asia-based solar wafer customer is planning further manufacturing capacity expansion in 2011 using wire saw machines from Meyer Burger. The new order is valued at CHF 30 million. Meyer Burger said that the order would secure the manufacturing of high quality solar wafers with the entire equipment set scheduled to be delivered during fiscal year 2011. Read more

Rhone Resch: Solar Is An Industry, Not an Issue

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

"Any time you are embraced by the administration it's a great thing, but opponents to the administration can make it work against you," said Resch, the 44-year-old president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association. This Washington, D.C.-based trade group represents the interests of the solar energy industry. Resch said he expects the mid-term congressional elections to result in more of a numerical balance between Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill. But he also believes fewer opportunities will exist for Congress to pass aggressive legislative initiatives that benefit renewables. Read more

Contest SPI2010: Free NLP Solar Sales Training $1,200 Value

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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US Utility Solar Market "Taking Off"

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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Iron Workers International Union Launch SolarWall® Training Program

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The International Iron Workers Union is pleased to announce that they have developed the very first SolarWall® installer training program for their members. The launch of a certified solar air heating training program for commercial and industrial applications is the first-of-its-kind in the world. It is generating a tremendous amount of political and industry interest, and the Iron Workers are pleased to be on the cutting edge of this new and exciting green technology. Read more

Contest SPI2010: Free Solar Website $2,500 Value

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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US Solar Industry Grows Despite Economy

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

According to a few announcements that have been made at Solar Power International, despite the dismal U.S. economy, the solar industry keeps right on growing. The solar energy industries association (SEIA) along with GTM Research released a report that shows that solar installations in 2010 are up more than 100% over 2009. The U.S. Solar Market Insight report compiled data for the first half of 2010 and shows significant growth in the U.S. solar industry despite the continuing struggles of the overall economy. Read more

Sharp® to Supply Thin Film Solar Panels for Multi-Megawatt Solar Power Project in Canada

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Sharp Electronics Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of Sharp Corporation, a world leader in solar electricity, today announced that it will supply its industry-leading tandem junction thin film solar panels for an 18.5 megawatt (MW) DC solar deployment in Ontario, Canada. The solar deployment, which is being developed under a joint venture between SunEdison, a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.(NYSE:WFR), and SkyPower Limited, is comprised of two solar parks, SunE Sky Norfolk I and II . Construction began in March of 2010 and is expected to be completed this fall. Read more

Ascent announces CIGS module testing at JM Technical Center; distribution agreement with Votum

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 1:15 (PV-Tech)

Upon completing internal production development and testing, Ascent Solar announced that Johns Manville (JM) will begin beta testing on its CIGS laminated modules  at the JM Technical Center (JMTC) in Littleton, Colorado. The IEC 61646 modules, which have been certified and are awaiting UL certification, will be compared against existing thin-film modules that are installed at JMTC. Read more

SPI 2010: Power gen products at play at Solar Power International

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 0:47 (PV-Tech)

Forget the shiny new solar modules with their aesthetically pleasing black anodized frames courting the fashion conscious residential rooftop owner at Solar Power International, but rather go and check-out the big powerful stuff. The U.S. is a big country, has big electrical needs and has a huge multi-gigawatts pipeline of utility-scale projects waiting in the wings. Read more

Project Focus: SunPower continues partnership with Macy?s to construct 3.5MW solar system

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 0:07 (PV-Tech)

Maintaining their three year partnership, which has put solar systems on 31 Macy’s facilities since 2007, SunPower is installing a 3.5MW solar power system at Macy’s Goodyear, Arizona online fulfillment center. It is estimated that around 70% of the facilities electricity demand will be provided through the solar installation and may be the largest solar system on a single rooftop in the U.S. upon its March 2011 completion. Read more

Project Focus: Conergy to build nine 1MW solar projects in Italy

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 0:04 (PV-Tech)

One month after Conergy signed a 32MW framework agreement in Greece, the company has landed a 9MW contract with Italian company Uni Land Spa Group. The €32 million contract will see Conergy construct nine large-scale solar installations; each at 1MW. The solar sites are located in the Apulia, Emilia Romagna and Veneto regions and are each around 6.18 acres (25,000 square meters) in size. Read more

Project Focus: Satcon Solstice chosen for 63MW solar plant in Puerto Rico

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 0:02 (PV-Tech)

Satcon Technology’s Solstice will be used in the 63MW CIRO One solar PV plant being built in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The project will use 126 Satcon Solstice 500kW applications, at its 180 acre site in the Lapas District of Salinas, producing approximately 116 million kW hours of energy per year. Construction on the project is to begin this month. Read more

The Pellet Handbook: The Production and Thermal Utilization of Biomass Pellets

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The first comprehensive guide in the English language to cover all pellet related issues, Read more

POET CEO comments on E15 approval

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Following the EPA's decision today to allow drivers the option to use 15 percent ethanol blends in 2007 and newer vehicles, POET CEO Jeff Broin issued the following statement: Read more

China's Wind Power Forecast at 230 GW by 2020

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

With an annual output of 464.9 TWh, Chinese wind farms would replace 200 coal fired plants, according to the joint report by Greenpeace, the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA) and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). Read more

Changing Tides in Offshore Wind

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.S. is now making moves to get into the offshore wind business that the United Kingdom is currently leading in the number of installations and planned projects. Read more

Google's Green Drive Switches Focus

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Google's initiative to make renewables cheaper than coal is changing tack after the company failed to find potential breakthroughs with low enough risk. The project, which started in 2007, will now focus on less revolutionary technologies. Read more

Portfolio Approach: New Kids on the Block

Wednesday, 10.13.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The share of renewable energy in overall electricity generation increased from 13 to 16.6 percent between 2001 and 2008 in EU and from 7.7 to 9.1 percent between 2001 and 2008 in the U.S. When looking only at "new" renewables, excluding hydro, they thus constitute the most dynamically growing segment in the overall mix. Figure 1 displays the growth path by renewable energy source in the U.S. and the E.U. Read more