Project Focus: APS, Solon will develop 18MW solar park in Gila Bend?s Solar Overlay Zone

Thursday, 9.30.2010 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Arizona Public Service (APS) is to construct an 18MW solar photovoltaics plant 70 miles southwest of Phoenix in Gila Bend, located in the town's new Solar Overlay Zone. Work on the plant, which will be owned by APS and developed by Solon, is expected to begin in early 2011 for completion in November of the same year. Read more

Corby competes to host the first large-scale solar plant in the UK

Thursday, 9.30.2010 - 12:11 (Solarpowerportal)

The race is well and truly on for the development of the first large-scale solar power plant in the UK. With one project in the South West appearing to have taken an early lead, Corby Council today announces that it wants the top spot. Read more

Which? report says free solar offers actually cost over £10,000

Thursday, 9.30.2010 - 11:00 (Solarpowerportal)

Consumer watchdog, Which?, has today warned that consumers who opt for free solar schemes are losing out to the tune of £10,500. While the homeowner receives a free solar system and reduced electricity bills, the consumers’ association says that they are still being ripped off. Read more

Satcon signs strategic manufacturing agreement with GCL; expects 2GW annual worldwide capacity

Thursday, 9.30.2010 - 0:15 (PV-Tech)

Satcon Technology and GCL Solar Systems singed a manufacturing agreement to boost production of Satcon’s 500kW PowerGate Plus solar PV inverters in the Asia Pacific market. GCL will develop a manufacturing facility in Nanjing, China, which they expect will produce over 500MW of the inverters in 2011. Satcon will supply GCL with the manufacturing processes and technologies for the PowerGate Plus in order to complete final assembly at the GCL solar plant. Read more

SolFocus works with BECC to develop a 16.8kW solar PV installation in Juarez, Mexico

Thursday, 9.30.2010 - 0:14 (PV-Tech)

Located in Juarez, Mexico, at the United States and Mexico border, is a newly developed 16.8kW solar PV installation built by SolFocus and the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC). The two solar arrays are expected to produce 43.14MWh of electricity per year and is the first CPV installation in the Northern Mexico border region. SolFocus partnered with Sonnergía and BECC for the development and construction of the project in order to promote solar PV in the border region. Read more

Photovoltech to use Intercim technology for enhancement of solar factory performance

Thursday, 9.30.2010 - 0:12 (PV-Tech)

After Photovoltech recently completed its new factory with a fully automated production, and 155MWp capacity, the company announced that in order to monitor the wafer characteristics more closely as they are being manufactured, they will begin using a software solution by Intercim. The software’s process rule discovery, operation advisor and performance tracker modules will interact with the production management system, allowing for a more constant examination and improvement for Photovoltech’s wafers production phases. Read more

Dow Corning invests US$13 million in a Solar Energy Exploration & Development Center

Thursday, 9.30.2010 - 0:10 (PV-Tech)

Dow Corning revealed its latest venture wherein the company plans to invest US$13 million in a Solar Energy Exploration & Development Center (SEED) at its Seneffe, Belgium, European headquarters. Two new buildings will be erected for the new R&D center, which, according to Dow Corning, will increase its capabilities and capacity for research and development in Europe. Read more

Sandia National Laboratories develops new large-scale PV power output prediction/monitoring system

Thursday, 9.30.2010 - 0:07 (PV-Tech)

As mother nature continued to prove that weather is an unpredictable phenomenon this week, Sandia National Laboratories was developing a system that will help utility companies predict and prepare for weather variations that can affect power output. The new system monitors how cloud shape, size and movement affect large-scale solar PV power plants and, with the data the system collects, will help utility companies assess the situation to ramp rates and power output if necessary. Read more

DECC releases first quarterly report on UK Energy Trends

Thursday, 9.30.2010 - 15:32 (Solarpowerportal)

Much like Solar Power Portal’s monthly round-up of solar installation figures in the UK, the DECC has released its first quarterly report of Energy Trends, which contains the Department’s first publication of feed-in tariff statistics covering installed capacity for the first quarter of the FiT scheme... Read more