GSS leaps into production ahead of schedule as Day4?s manufacturing partner

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

Gebäude-Solarsysteme (GSS), a German PV company, has successfully started its operation and delivery of Day4 Energy’s solar PV modules for custom applications – ahead of schedule. GSS is the first solarSystem partner in the turnkey manufacturing program with Day4 and is also the first to be manufacturing and delivering the company’s branded solar modules. The line is anticipated to generate 15MW per year once it is at full capacity, as well as creating additional revenue for Day4. Read more

Wagner & Co forms joint venture with UK equipment supplier

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 18:15 (PV-Tech)

Wagner & Co has teamed up with UK photovoltaic equipment supplier AC Solartechnic to form the joint venture Wagner Solar UK. The new company will start business in November 2010, working from AC Solartechnic's current site located in West Sussex, UK. Read more

Hareon Solar optimizes solar cell production with Applied?s manufacturing automation software

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 15:15 (PV-Tech)

Hareon Solar has selected Applied Materials' SmartFactory manufacturing automation software with the aim of improving productivity across Hareon's solar photovoltaic cell manufacturing operations in China. The company will install Applied's software at its cell subsidiaries Jiangyin Hareon Solar Technology and Altusvia Energy. Read more

Good Energies, NIBC Infrastructure Partners acquire Finsterwalde II and Finsterwalde III

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 15:03 (PV-Tech)

Good Energies and NIBC Infrastructure Partners have signed an agreement with Q-Cells SE for the acquisition of Finsterwalde II and Finsterwalde III, the solar photovoltaics plants located in Brandenburg, Germany. Together with Q-Cells' Finsterwalde I, which stands adjacent, the three Finsterwalde projects have a capacity of 81MWp, forming the largest operational solar PV plant in the world. Read more

Project Focus: SunPower subsidiary receives financing for Montalto di Castro plant

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 14:06 (PV-Tech)

Andromeda PV, the wholly owned subsidiary of SunPower, has reportedly received a €200 million loan from BNP Paribas and Société Générale in order to construct the two solar photovoltaics plants at Montalto di Castro, Italy, which will together have a capacity of 51MW. Read more

Project Focus: SolFocus teams with CPC unit Vision on first commercial CPV plant in Saudi Arabia

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 3:15 (PV-Tech)

Concentrator photovoltaics developer SolFocus will partner with Vision Electro Mechanical to build the first commercial CPV power plant in Saudi Arabia. The initial project will be the initial project in a series of Saudi solar power stations planned by Vision (a subsidiary of Construction Projects Holding Co. [CPC]). Construction on the 132KW system will begin next month, according to SolFocus sources. Read more

TÜV Rheinland and FM Approvals to offer new testing service for solar modules

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 0:02 (PV-Tech)

FM Approvals and TÜV Rheinland have come together to form new approval standards for flexible and rigid PV modules. The FM Approval Standard 4476, Approval Standard for Flexible Photovoltaic Modules, and Approval Standard 4478, Approval Standard for Rigid Photovoltaic Modules, are in the final review stages and set to be released by the end of this year. The new standards were conceived to better allow PV module manufacturers obtain FM Approval for products used as part of an FM Approved roofing assembly. Read more

Order Focus:  Neo Solar and GCL Poly sign wafer supply deal

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

Neo Solar Power (NSP) has entered into a three-year wafer supply contract with GCL Poly. GCL will supply 350MW of solar wafers to NSP between 2010’s fourth quarter and the end of 2013. “We are very pleased to have extended our partnership with GCL, a company with strength in exceptional employee talents. I really admire Chairman Zhu’s operating philosophies and long-term strategies. By signing this wafer supply contract with GCL, NSP strengthens its long-term partnership with GCL and stabilizes material supply and hence able to support incoming orders... Read more

Project Focus: IES secures contract with GSA for 914kW solar installation in Orange County

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

The Chet Holifield Federal Building in Laguna Niguel, California is currently undergoing a 914kW solar PV installation due to a contract between Independent Energy Solutions and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). This is the first utility-scale PV project for GSA and once completed, should be the second largest PV installation in Orange County. Read more

Project Focus: WMECo celebrates completion of 1.8MW solar installation in Pittsfield

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

Just over a year ago, the Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo) got approval from the Department of Public Utilities to build 6MW of solar facilities in the New England region over the next two years and the first of its projects has come to a successful completion at the William Stanley Business Park in Pittsfield. The 1.8MW solar installation is the first in the 6MW solar program and is situated on eight acres of land owned by WMECo and the Pittsfield Economic Development using around 6,500 solar panels. Read more

JA Solar expects shipments to exceed 410MW in Q3

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 20:15 (PV-Tech)

A recurring theme in 2010 has been upward revisions on a quarterly basis to product shipments from the major PV manufacturers as demand continues to remain strong, despite rapid capacity expansion plans. With the third quarter financial season looming, JA Solar has revised guidance for its third quarter results. Read more

German solar company Wagner & Co forms joint venture in UK

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 17:13 (Solarpowerportal)

German solar pioneer Wagner & Co has joined forces with one of the leading suppliers of photovoltaic equipment in southern England, AC Solartechnic. The new joint venture, named Wagner Solar UK, will do business beginning in November from AC Solartechnic´s present site in Sidlesham, near Chichester, West Sussex. Read more

aleo solar increases production capacity to 390MW

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 15:15 (PV-Tech)

aleo solar is to increase the combined annual production capacity of its three factories from 250MW to 390MW by the end of 2011. Around €20 million is being invested in the expansion, which will create a total of 100 new jobs. Read more

A Shade Greener will now offer free solar for smaller roofs

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 13:36 (Solarpowerportal)

Since the Government’s announcement last week in the Spending Review that the feed-in tariff would not be cut, many companies have been given the green light for their UK solar plans. Free home solar company A Shade Greener is no exception. Read more

Will India be a bigger concentrated solar thermal power than China?

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Last year there was very little talk of India becoming one of the biggest markets for CSP. Today the question on everybody's lips is: Will India be a bigger CSP power than China? Read more

How to be a Solar David and aim a Slingshot at a Dirty Energy Goliath

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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Two Solar Energy Plants, Including 1 GW Plant, Approved for Federal Lands

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.S. Interior Department has approved a permit for the $6 billion, 1,000 MW Blythe parabolic solar trough project and the 663.5 MW Calico solar power plant on federal lands in the California desert. The Blythe project would be one of the largest solar power plants in the world. Read more

Dow Corning Solar Names Allison Ashbrook as Global Distribution Manager

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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San Antonio Business Leaders Find Worldwide Solar Industry Awakening To Texas Potential

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Solar San Antonio has found a way to remove the upfront-cost barrier to solar for homeowners. In a six week trial test of Solar San Antonio's initiative program, "Bring Solar Home" the community response far exceeded their expectations and demonstrated there is a huge demand for solar in San Antonio. Read more

Materials Engineering Enhances Solar Performance

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The manufacture of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules mandates designed-in materials engineering to reduce development time, streamline production, and optimize performance. Read more

Big solar: U.S. Department of Interior approves largest CSP project to be built on public lands

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 5:45 (PV-Tech)

The U.S. Department of the Interior has approved what will be the largest solar energy project ever to be built on U.S. public lands. The Blythe Solar Power Project, which will use parabolic trough-based concentrated solar thermal technology, will produce up to 1GW of solar power once completed. The proposed plant (proposed by Palo Verde Solar I, a subsidiary of German-based Solar Millennium) will cover 7025 acres of public lands eight miles west of Blythe in Riverside County, CA. Read more

USDA Report Finds Ethanol Has Economic Benefits for American Families

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

A newly-published report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that, under every scenario, American families would benefit economically if the United States were to meet the goals of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). Read more

USDA: Ethanol Can Be Cost Savings for U.S. Households

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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Fundamentals of US Solar Power Market Are Strong

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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Now What? Funny You Should Ask?.

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

As the charred remains of the climate bill still smolder on the floor of the Senate Chamber, environmentalists are littering the blogosphere with accounts of the disaster. Some are poking through the wreckage like forensic political scientists, others have taken to moaning and wailing with all the dedication of professional mourners, still others are shaking their fist at the heavens of the Capital dome like Job and crying "why, why? We're virtuous, our cause is just. We did what you asked. We made nice with corporations, gave out cushy subsidies and concessions and still you forsake us?" Read more

Island Breezes, Sun Perfect for Renewables

Tuesday, 10.26.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Islands have beautiful sunsets, slumbering volcanoes, soothing trade winds, outrageous energy prices. Read more