Project Focus: IES completes, commissions 1.15MW PV system for Capital Group in Irvine, CA

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 21:08 (PV-Tech)

Independent Energy Solutions has completed and commissioned a 1.15MW (DC) solar photovoltaic installation for the Capital Group companies' Irvine, CA, campus. The system, which is mounted on shade structures on the roofs of three parking garages, provides nearly 50% of the energy used to power the campus data center and central plant equipment. Read more

Suntech places bet on smart modules (updated)

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 17:21 (PV-Tech)

(Updated) Integrating energy harvesting technologies into crystalline solar modules is fast becoming the latest trend, which promises lower BOS costs compared to bolt-on applications. With the number of companies entering this market mushrooming in 2010, Suntech has decided to collaborate with at least four such firms, Tigo Energy, National Semiconductor, Azuray Technologies, and Enphase Energy. Read more

Suntech places bet on smart modules

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

Integrating energy harvesting technologies into crystalline solar modules is fast becoming the latest trend, which promises lower BOS costs compared to bolt-on applications. With the number of companies entering this market mushrooming in 2010, Suntech has decided to collaborate with at least two such firms, Tigo Energy and National Semiconductor. Read more

SunEdison sells 70MW under construction power plant in Italy for ?276 million

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 15:03 (PV-Tech)

Europe’s largest PV power plant has been sold by SunEdison, and a subsidiary of MEMC to private equity firm, First Reserve for a cool €276 million. The 70MW plant near Rovigo, Northeast Italy is currently under construction with grid connection is expected before the end of 2010. Earlier this year both companies formed a joint venture which could provide for the acquisition of up to US$1.5 billion in current and future SunEdison solar photovoltaic energy projects. Read more

Ascent Solar?s modules to be on the move with DisaSolar distribution agreement

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

Ascent Solar Technologies PV modules will literally be travelling through the countryside as a result from its signed distribution agreement with DisaSolar, a subsidiary of Megamark/DisaTech Group. DisaSolar will distribute Ascent’s thin-film CIGS modules for use in off-grid projects, such as incorporating the solar panels into passenger train roofs (as pictured) and commercial signage structures. Read more

eIQ and KACO collaborate on pre-configured solar PV arrays

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

eIQ Energy and KACO new energy announced their collaboration to bring eIQ’s vBoost DC optimizers and KACO’s blueplanet XP100-U inverters into one convenient, pre-tested and pre-configured package for solar array designers. The companies site this combination as being a more efficient way for design and parts to be ordered for solar arrays between 100kW and 300kW. Their agreement will span the whole North American market. Read more

Solarvalue announces creation of first solar grade metallurgical silicon ingot

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

During Solarvalue’s annual general meeting, Dr. Christian Bornhauser (pictured), CTO of Solarvalue, announced that the company had created the first solar grade silicon-ingot, which weighed in at around 15kg during several repeated tests on different plants. He assured that the purity levels of phosphorus and boron were less than 1ppmw and within the demanded specifications. Read more

CNPV receives UL certification; awaits CEC listing

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

CNPV Solar Power’s crystalline silicon solar PV modules have successfully achieved UL and C-UL certifications, which are needed for the modules’ use in the US and Canadian markets. CNPV now anticipates listing with the California Energy Commission (CEC) to follow its UL certification and is looking into opening a sales office in California and Canada to meet anticipated demands from the North American sector. Read more

Project Focus: Martifer Solar celebrates opening of its first solar power plant in Cape Verde

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 22:15 (PV-Tech)

Off the west coast of Africa in Cape Verde a celebration took place to present the first of two solar parks that Martifer Solar built under its contract with the Cape Verde’s Ministry of Economy, Growth and Competitiveness. Located in Ila do Sal, the turnkey project is situated on 9.75 hectares and has 2.5MW in peak power capacity .The fixed structure project was entirely developed by Martifer using its own PV panels. Read more

Project Focus: Etrion, Phoenix Solar sign deal to build 1.7MW PV power plant in Italy

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 21:15 (PV-Tech)

Etrion and Phoenix Solar have signed a new agreement to build a 1.7MW PV power plant in Rio Martino, in the Lazio region of Italy. Phoenix Solar will design and construct the facility, set to begin construction in October and be completed by year's end. The system integrator will also provide operations and maintenance services. Read more

Solar back on roof of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 17:15 (PV-Tech)

A mini-saga looks set to end as the White House will once again have a small solar thermal and solar PV system put on part of the buildings roof area. Although it is not known which manufacturer’s technology will be deployed as part of what the U.S. Energy Secretary, Steven Chu said was a Department of Energy demonstration project, ‘American solar technologies’ would be used. Read more

Order Focus: Amtech reports record solar equipment bookings

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 14:15 (PV-Tech)

Crystalline solar diffusion technology specialist, Amtech Systems has reported record equipment bookings for its 2010 financial year, which ended September 30th. Total orders from PV manufacturers reached US$161 million with fourth quarter bookings worth US$41 million, according to the company. Read more

SolarEdge locks in US$25 million during latest financing round

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 3:15 (PV-Tech)

Lightspeed Venture Partners lead the latest financing round for Solar Edge Technologies, which brought in US$25 million in funding. Along with Lightspeed, financing partners included existing investors Opus Capital, Genesis Partners, Walden International, ORR Partners, Vertex Venture Capital and JP Asia Capital Partners. Read more

Mecasolar adds new manufacturing facility in Ontario

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 3:15 (PV-Tech)

Mecasolar celebrated the opening of its newest manufacturing facility in Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada, which boasts 20,000 square feet and enough space to potentially add two acres of outside storage. Mecasolar’s new center can produce 8,000 solar trackers per year and will manufacture both 2-axis solar trackers and 15kW 1-axis trackers. Read more

Project Focus: ABB to provide inverters for various solar PV projects in southern Italy

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 1:51 (PV-Tech)

ABB Italy has entered into an agreement with an undisclosed Italian PV integrator and will be delivering its solar invertors to several solar power plant projects in southern Italy. ABB will supply inverters ranging in size from 250kW to 500kW, totaling over 50MW. Delivery is scheduled to be completed before the end of this year. Read more

AEG and Electrotherm team up to advance solar business in India

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 1:48 (PV-Tech)

AEG power Solutions entered a partnership with Electrotherm in order to advance their solar businesses in India. The two companies hope to attain 100MW during the next 36 months, kicking off with a 15MW installation at the end of the last quarter in 2010 and 30MW at the beginning of next year in the states of Gujrat and Rajastan. Additionally, in order to help expand its solar business in India, AEG will be developing a manufacturing facility for its inverters sometime in 2011. Read more

Advanced Energy increases Ontario operations

Tuesday, 10.5.2010 - 3:15 (PV-Tech)

In a strategic move that Advanced Energy Industries sights as a way to meet the increasing demand for its utility-scale inverters, the company has expanded its operations in Ontario, Canada to include the origination of a new legal entity to provide local support to its customers in the Ontario area. Additionally, Advanced Energy established a strategic relationship with an electronics manufacturing service based in Ontario, which will produce the Solaron and PV Powered PV grid-tie inverter. Read more