Order Focus: Solar Frontier tapped to supply 10MW of CIS solar modules for Saudi project

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

Solar Frontier has agreed to supply 10MW of its cadmium-and lead-free thin-film CIS solar modules to Saudi Aramco, who is building the North park office complex in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Solar Frontier’s modules will be used to cover the 4,450 parking spaces at the car park for the office complex. At 10MW, the panels will provide all the structure’s daytime energy needs with completion anticipated for the end of 2011. Read more

CNPV signs 150MWp module supply agreement with Standby Europe

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 13:54 (PV-Tech)

CNPV Solar Power has entered into an extended long-term strategic partnership agreement with Standby Europe for the supply of 150MWp high performance photovoltaic modules from 2011 to 2013. Under the terms of this agreement, CNPV will supply Standby Europe with 40MWp of modules in 2011 and 50MWp and 60MWp in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Read more

Reducing Cost/Improving Efficiency in Solar Modules

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Current module assembly methodologies based on solder processes, while effective for today's cell dimensions, are challenged by the move to thinner, larger solar cells. Read more

Project Focus: Amonix breaks ground on Nevada manufacturing plant

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

On hand in North Las Vegas, Nevada, Amonix was joined by state senators and representatives to break ground on a new 214,000 square foot manufacturing facility. Using the US$5.8 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act manufacturing tax credit, Amonix will be using the new site to produce CPV solar power systems for Nevada and neighboring state installations. Read more

Project Focus: Iberdrola and SunPower to collaborate on 30MW solar park in Colorado

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

SunPower and Iberdrola Renewables will be working together on the construction of a 30MW solar park in Colorado. Located on 216 acres of private land, which use to for agricultural purposes in Alamosa County, the San Luis Valley Solar Ranch will commence construction later this year with the plant expected to be in full operation by the end of 2011. Read more

German CIGS developer Solarion receives major investment, plans to build first factory

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

Contracts were officially signed today between Walsin Lihwa and Solarion, wherein Walsin will invest €40 million and hold a 49% stake in Solarion. The Development Bank of Saxony contributed a grant of more than €20 million towards the Walsin investment. The first stage for the factory will consist of building an integrated cell and module factory that has a 20MW annual production capacity. Once the first stage is completed, an 180MW manufacturing plant will also be built on the site near the BMW Leipzig assembly plant. Read more

Schott Solar?s in-house test lab granted VDE certification

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

Schott Solar’s in-house test lab for new products, processes and materials under IEC 61215, IEC 61646 and IEC 61730, has completed the requirements necessary and received certification by the VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies. Schott’s laboratory meets all required IEC standards and will now have all test reports prepared by the Alzenau test center forwarded to VDE. VDE will then confirm and issue approval for the use of the VDE mark. Read more

First Solar sales were US$797.9 million in Q3: module ASP?s decline

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 23:08 (PV-Tech)

UPDATED: PV industry market leader First Solar reported third-quarter sales of US$797.9 million, a significant increase from second quarterly net sales of US$587.9 million, mainly due to the sale of the 60MW Sarnia Phase 2 utility project in Canada. The company noted that its CdTe thin-film module average selling prices (ASP) declined in the quarter, which impacted revenue figures. Read more

First Solar sales were US$797.9 million in Q3: module ASPs decline

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 23:08 (PV-Tech)

PV industry market leader First Solar reported third-quarter sales of US$797.9 million, a significant increase from second quarterly net sales of US$587.9 million, mainly due to the sale of the 60MW Sarnia Phase 2 utility project in Canada. The company noted that its CdTe thin-film module average selling prices (ASP) declined in the quarter, which impacted revenue figures. Read more

Satcon posts another record quarter: targets 20% market share

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

Solar inverter firm, Satcon Technology has posted another record revenue quarter equating to Year-on-Year growth of 480%. Third quarter revenue reached US$58.4 million with over US$200 million I booking for the first 9-months, representing 800MW of bookings. Satcon is also seeing growth outside of North America, where orders from Europe are 29% of bookings and Asia Pacific 17%. Read more

Order Focus: Indosolar signs $600 million wafer supply deal with GCL-Poly

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

Currently with 160MW solar cell manufacturing capacity, Indosolar is making a major bid to become a leading cell producer in India with a wafer supply deal sealed with GCL-Poly amounting to 815MW at a cost of approximately US$600 million over the next four years. The deal also highlights the rapid growth and industry acceptance of GCL-Poly as a major player, having recently reached a polysilicon production cost of US$25.4/kg in the third quarter of 2010 and wafer sales of 435MW at a manufacturing cost of US$0.58 per watt. Read more

Innotech Solar lays first stone at German production site

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Innotech Solar (ITS) has now begun constructing its new solar cell production site located in the Eastern German city of Halle, laying the first foundation stone on October 27. The facility is expected to initially create 80 new jobs in the region, with plans to increase the number of employees as the site progresses. Innotech Solar was assisted in the investment process by Germany Trade & Invest and the Investment and Marketing Corporation (IMG) Saxony-Anhalt. Read more

Greenfield Holdings completes one of UK?s largest rooftop installs

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 10:34 (Solarpowerportal)

Greenfield Holdings (GHL), which delivers renewable energy solutions for corporate companies, has now completed one of the largest commercial rooftop solar installations in the UK, located on top of the Chingford branch of supermarket Sainsbury’s. Read more

3 MW Solar Installation Begins in PA

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

One segment of the US solar market that hasn't been growing as fast as the residential and utility-scale markets is the commercial market, that is, installations ranging from 1 MW to 10 MW in size that are usually installed on commercial businesses. A groundbreaking today is bucking that trend. Read more

Delta generates strong interest for its Solivia Solar Inverters at Solar Power International ? Presence in North America expanded

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Delta Energy Systems showcased its new SOLIVIA Solar Inverter line for the North American market at the Solar Power International show including the newly announced 250 kW Commercial and Utility-Scale central inverter. Delta has been designing and developing its solar inverter products at its Teningen, Germany location since 1999 and now brings its highly efficient and reliable solar inverters to the North America market. Starting in 2011, the new central inverter line will be produced at Delta's existing Los Angeles location, with an initial production capacity of 1GW. The Los Angeles facility will also be the headquarters of Delta Energy's newly formed North American Operations Read more

SunMaxx Solar Wins Contract for Solar Thermal Installation at United States Air Force Base In Los Angeles

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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GTM Research issues new report stating 92% growth in module manufacturing during 2010

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 0:16 (PV-Tech)

GTM Research released a new report, PV Technology, Production and Cost Outlook: 2010-2015, which among other research, concluded that global solar PV panel production will surpass 15GW this year alone. The report details forecasts for production volume, component prices, an examination of PV technology characteristics, producer-specific manufacturing costs and business model analysis among other investigative studies for the whole PV supply chain. Read more

SunRun gets another round of financing for residential solar PV installations

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 0:15 (PV-Tech)

SunRun has been given an added commitment of tax equity from a partner of U.S. Bancorp for the construction of 1,900 residential solar installations. The partnership with U.S. Bancorp is a follow up to the previous contract it had with the company less than a year ago. Read more

Project Focus: NRG and BrightSource celebrate Ivanpah groundbreaking and US$300 million investment

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 0:15 (PV-Tech)

Nestled close to the Nevada border in Needles, California, NRG Energy was on hand with BrightSource Energy and California’s Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System facility in the Mojave Desert. NRG Solar had recently signed a letter of intent with BrightSource to construct, finance, own and operate the 392MW solar thermal project with a US$300 million investment over the next three years. Read more

Project Focus: Azure Power to invest in 15MW solar power plant in Gujarat, India

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 0:15 (PV-Tech)

At the Delhi International Renewable Energy Conference (DIREC), Azure Power announced that it is investing US$40 million in the Indian state of Gujarat for the construction of a 15MW solar PV plant. The investment is being led by Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a U.S. Government agency, which is devoted to helping U.S. businesses invest abroad and encourage economic development in new and emerging markets. Additional investors include IFC, World Bank group and India and Foundation Capital. Read more

Teaching An Old Dog New Energy Tricks

Thursday, 10.28.2010 - 6:00 (Renewable Energy World)

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