Project Focus: Sunservice establishes 2MW PV power plant with Sputnik inverters

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

Sunservice has installed its first PV power plant in the western Bulgarian town of Ihtiman. The 2MW facility uses amorphous silicon modules and six SolarMax 330CSV central inverters produced by Sputnik Engineering. Each device has a rated output of 330kW and a maximum efficiency of 98%. The PV facility is expected to produce 1,250kWh of electricity per year with the plant operator paid €37.2 cents for every kilowatt hour produced. Read more

Project Focus: Sharp supplies thin-film modules for 45MW Avenal facility

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 19:15 (PV-Tech)

Sharp Electronics has confirmed its supply agreement for the 58MW (DC) (45MW AC) Avenal photovoltaic solar power facility, located in Central California. Once complete, the three plant project will be the largest in the state, supplying renewable energy to PG&E under 20-year power purchase agreements approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Read more

IMS Research reports increased cell capacity in Q210 but expects margins to fall in 2011

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 13:15 (PV-Tech)

According to IMS Research's latest report, annualized photovoltaic cell production capacity increased once again in the second quarter of 2010, reaching over 25GW. The analysts further forecast that capacity will reach 33GW by the end of the year, over 80% of which will be for crystalline cell technologies. However, this news also comes with a warning that gross margins will fall in 2011. Read more

DelSolar and IBM to develop compound thin-film solar cells

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 0:16 (PV-Tech)

DelSolar is making a move outside of its comfort zone and starting the process to develop compound thin-film solar cells with the help of IBM. The two companies are working towards improving the next-generation thin-film technology and bringing it into commercial production with hopes of making it potentially available for use in vaulted roof tops, curved glass curtain walls, other non-flat BIPV application or extended applications such as curtains or shutters. Read more

Order Focus: Two orders for turnkey lines from centrotherm requested by Chinese customers

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 0:15 (PV-Tech)

centrotherm photovoltaics announced its newest supply order, which has been made by two unnamed Chinese customers, for 60MW of its turnkey lines used in the manufacturing of crystalline solar cells. Payment amounts were not published, but centrotherm advised that both customers were “investing a double-digit amount in millions of Euros.” Prepayment has already been accepted for one of the two orders and centrotherm advised that the two companies, one of which is a Chinese state operation, are new in the solar cell production division. Read more

PVT Solar closes series B financing at US$13.7 million; appoints new CEO

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

PVT Solar made dual announcements, publicizing that it had not only closed its series B financing round at US$13.7 million, but that it had also hired Vikas Desai as its new CEO. Desai hails from SunPower’s residential and commercial business division where he was president and general manager. As for the financing round, Sigma Partners closed the financing round and was joined by Khosla Ventures and Energy & Environment Investment. Read more

Project Focus: Dedication ceremony for PSEG Jacksonville Solar takes place in Florida

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

Although the Public Service Enterprise Group’s (PSEG) Jacksonville Solar facility has been producing energy since this past summer, the official dedication ceremony was recently thrown by PSEG and JEA to officially present the facility to the Jacksonville, Florida, community, businesses and government leaders. Read more

Centrosolar increases capacity to 200MWp while looking towards future facility expansion

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

Centrosolar Sonnenstromfabrik has increased its overall capacity from 155MWp to 200MWp by updating the oldest of its four production lines at its Wismar plant. The facility has been operating at its capacity limits since May 2009 despite several capacity increases. Centrosolar acknowledges that its almost 140,000 square foot facility has not only reached its physical limits, but will need further examination completed for the potential expansion of the site. Read more

Project Focus: Yingli scores a touchdown in New Jersey with completion of Jets? solar installation

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 14:09 (PV-Tech)

Yingli Green Energy has now completed the installation of the solar power system at the New York Jets' team headquarters and training centre in Florham Park, NJ. The roof-mounted installation, utilizing over 3,000 Yingli Solar panels, is expected to produce over 750MWh of renewable electricity each year. Read more

Project Focus: Yingli scores touchdown in New Jersey with completion of Jets? solar installation

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 14:09 (PV-Tech)

Yingli Green Energy has now completed the installation of the solar power system at the New York Jets' team headquarters and training centre in Florham Park, NJ. The roof-mounted installation, utilizing over 3,000 Yingli Solar panels, is expected to produce over 750MWh of renewable electricity each year. Read more

DECC reveals the truth behind FiT confusion

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 11:44 (Solarpowerportal)

As with all new technologies, myths and misconceptions appear during the teething stages, yet these are usually dispersed within the first couple of months. However, in the case of renewable energy, people are a little harder to convince. Since the introduction of the UK’s feed-in tariff in April, sites such as the Solar Power Portal have fought tooth and nail to highlight the benefits of solar energy... Read more

Household solar power: explaining the small print

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 11:44 (Solarpowerportal)

As with all new technologies, myths and misconceptions appear during the teething stages, yet these are usually dispersed within the first couple of months. However, in the case of renewable energy, people are a little harder to convince. Since the introduction of the UK’s feed-in tariff in April, sites such as the Solar Power Portal have fought tooth and nail to highlight the benefits of solar energy... Read more

Australian Capital Territory revises FiT rate to boost large-scale solar power

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 11:15 (PV-Tech)

In a bid to boost the amount of larger-scale photovoltaics plants in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), the Government has put forward plans for revised feed-in tariff legislation.  This is the second stage of revisions for the ACT's feed-in tariff, as the rate was also cut back in July in order to increase investor confidence. Read more

Project Focus: OYA Solar and Atlas collaborate on 3.5MW Ontario solar project

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 0:16 (PV-Tech)

In what they hail as being the largest rooftop solar PV project in North America, OYA Solar and Atlas Tube will be partnering on the project, which will be built atop the Atlas facility in Harrow, Ontario. Covering over 65,000 square feet, with a total investment of US$20 million, the companies are working with Polar Racking (Polar), Conergy Canada and Tremco Weatherproofing Technologies to complete 500kW of the project by next spring. Read more

Microchip develops digitally controlled solar microinverter reference design

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 0:16 (PV-Tech)

Microchip Technology publicized its fully digitally controlled grid-connected solar micro inverter reference design, which features an enhanced, high efficiency topology. According to the company, peak efficiency of 95% was reached with maximum power point tracking of 99.5% and nighttime power consumption less than 1W. Read more

Air Products scores turnkey gas supply contract

Tuesday, 9.28.2010 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

Air Products has attained a contract to supply its SunSource Solutions gases, equipment and services for its Malaysian customer, rumored to be SunPower at its Melaka, Malaysia crystalline PV facility. The turnkey gas supply contract incorporates bulk and specialty gases, specialty chemicals and related gas distribution equipment for the Malaysian facility. Furthermore, the contract comprises of a long-term supply of on-site nitrogen, hydrogen, argon, oxygen and specialty gases like silane, ammonia and nitrogen trifluoride. Read more