CNPV, AE Photonics enter into biggest supply agreement to date

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

CNPV Solar Power and AE Photonics have entered into an extended long-term strategic partnership agreement for the supply of 300MWp photovoltaic modules from 2011 to 2013. Under the terms of the agreement, CNPV will supply AE Photonics with 60MWp during 2011 and then deliver 96MWp and 144MWp in 2012 and 2013, respectively. This is the largest contract in the history of both companies. Read more

The Challenges Facing Back Sheet Manufacturers

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The rapid growth of the photovoltaic (PV) industry over the last several years led to the development and introduction of numerous new materials for PV applications. This is a very positive phenomenon as new materials allow for more choices, higher performance, and cost reduction of final products. On the other hand, development, introduction to the market and manufacturing of new materials is a challenging process. One of the challenges back sheet manufacturers are facing is the certification process. Since these new polymeric materials do not have a long history of performance in PV applications, extensive testing to ensure safety and reliability of these materials is required. Read more

Moser Baer gets Indian government grant to develop CIGS thin-film PV

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Another solar PV company has joined the growing ranks of players attempting to bring CIGS thin film to market. India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has awarded a grant to Moser Baer India to engage in the developmental activity of copper-indium-gallium-(di)selenide cells. MBI will conduct the development work from its corporate R&D facility in Greater Noida, Pradesh, with the efforts focused on developing a differentiated, indigenous, commercially viable CIGS technology. Read more

Meyer Burger ups annual guidance, sees net sales of $814M; order backlog tops $1B

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 20:15 (PV-Tech)

Because of expected tool deliveries and customer acceptances by year's end, solar manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger Technology Group has increased its guidance on net sales for fiscal year 2010. The company, which saw an increase in net sales of 67% to CHF 356.9 million (US$363.1 million) during the first half of the year, has boosted its forecast on net sales for 2010, from the previously announced CHF730 million (US$742.7 million) to approximately CHF800 million (US$813.8 million)—nearly double the CHF420.9 million ($428 million) intake achieved in 2009. Read more

Project Focus: GlaxoSmithKline begins installation of 3MW PV system on York, PA, center rooftop

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 20:01 (PV-Tech)

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare has begun installing what is being called North America's largest rooftop solar array at its Northeast Regional Distribution Center (RDC) in York, PA. The 3MW system will generate about 3.4 million KWh annually, enough electricity to meet the annual needs of the 500,000 sq ft building, the company said. The system will be comprised of Suntech modules, Advanced Energy inverters, and Sunlink racking gear. Read more

Project Focus: AllEarth Renewables, Chittenden to develop 2.2MW tracker-based solar farm in Vermont

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

AllEarth Renewables has received a contract to install 382 of its AllSun Trackers at a solar farm in South Burlington, VT. The company said that final permits have been issued on the project, and construction is scheduled to begin in early November. The 2.2MW installation will be the largest solar array to date in Vermont and is anticipated to be operational on the 32-acre site by early 2011. Read more

E.ON will install a further 16.3MW solar power in Italy

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 16:15 (PV-Tech)

E.ON Germany has revealed plans to add 16.3MW of solar power generation capacity in Italy as the company aims to expand Italy's rapidly growing solar market. The utility is to construct four photovoltaic installations, two of which are expected to be complete by April next year. Read more

Project Focus: RMT, Pilesgrove Solar develop largest power plant in Northeastern U.S.

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 16:15 (PV-Tech)

Renewable energy engineering and construction company RMT has joined forces with Pilesgrove Solar, a joint venture between Panda Power Funds and Con Edison Development, in order to construct an 18MW solar energy facility located in Pilesgrove, NJ. Once complete, the plant is expected to be the largest in Northeastern America. Read more

juwi establishes Bangalore-based subsidiary, aims to install 100MW in India

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

The juwi group has established a subsidiary in India which the company has branded 'juwi India Renewable Energies.' The additional facility, which is headquartered in Bangalore, will begin working on solar power installations in India in 2011, with the aim of installing over 100MW of solar power in the next few years. Read more

Plans revealed for 5MW solar plant in Cambridgeshire

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 12:24 (Solarpowerportal)

A village near Ely in Cambridgeshire could soon be home to a five megawatt solar power plant, becoming East Anglia’s biggest installation to date. Local firm Abbey Renewables has outlined plans to build the 35-acre solar farm in Wilburton on land on Mingay Farm along Twenty Pence Road in the village. Read more

Fighting Solar Bureaucracy

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

More than 90% of Americans want greater use of solar power, yet less than 1% of America's energy comes from solar power. One of the problems is that each state has different standards for connecting solar to the grid. The Solar Electric Industries Association (SEIA) recently took an interesting step to address this problem by creating a "Solar Bill of Rights." Read more

SunPower and Iberdrola To Build 30-MW Solar Plant

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

SunPower said this week that it's going to design, build and supply panels for a 30-MW PV project in Colorado. The project, called the San Luis Valley Solar Ranch, will begin construction this year. If all goes as planned, the plant will be fully operational by 2011. Read more

New Bi-Partisan Calls for End to Ethanol Subsidies

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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SunMaxx Solar CEO Adam Farrell to Present at 2010 Advanced Energy Conference

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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General Motors' Freese Named Chairman for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Trade Group's Key Conference

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA), has tapped Charlie Freese, General Motors (GM) top fuel cell executive, to chair its 2011 annual conference and expo. Read more

Order Focus: Day4 Energy inks module supply deal with Italian distributor Enerpoint

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 20:15 (PV-Tech)

Day4 Energy has signed a deal with Enerpoint  to supply the Italian solar PV distributor with the Canadian company's 60MC-I crystalline-silicon modules. Day4 joins Trina, Schott, Sharp, REC, Kaneka, and other PV manufacturers whose panels are offered in the Enerpoint portfolio. Financial and other terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Read more

Bulgaria, Israel Could Trade Water for Gas

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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Coal in My backyard (CIMBY)

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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GeoPower Europe - Promising to be the Biggest Yet!

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

GeoPower Europe 2010 will be Green Power and EGEC's biggest event yet. Delegate numbers are almost 3 times higher than this time last year, and there are still 5 weeks until the event hits Paris. Read more

Global Wind Market Slows in 2010

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The analysis firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance released figures on the global wind market this week. As expected, BNEF reports that the European and American markets will decline. However, the challenges in those countries were balanced out by another big year in China. Read more

Prop 23 Threatens California's Clean Energy Future

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Local governments across California are facing an assault on their efforts to create green jobs and foster vital business development through clean technology industries, and it will be up to voters on November 2nd to decide its fate. Passage of Proposition 23 (the Dirty Energy Proposition) would hamper progress on energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in hundreds of communities across California, while threatening new opportunities for job creation and economic growth. Read more

The World Series of Renewable Energy

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

As thousands gathered in San Francisco to watch the Giants play Texas in the first game of the World Series, a coalition of local green groups gathered outside the stadium to remind crowds that California clean energy economy will face its own threat from Texas big oil in next week's election. Read more

MIT Researchers Find a Stable Way To Store the Sun's Heat

Friday, 10.29.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Researchers at MIT have revealed exactly how a molecule called fulvalene diruthenium, which was discovered in 1996, works to store and release heat on demand. This understanding, reported in a paper published on Oct. 20 in the journal Angewandte Chemie, should make it possible to find similar chemicals based on more abundant, less expensive materials than ruthenium, and this could form the basis of a rechargeable battery to store heat rather than electricity. Read more