Schneider Electric Recalls Inverters

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 17:39 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the Schneider Electric announced a voluntary recall of about 25,000 Xantrex Grid Tie Inverters. Read more

Kyocera taking module capacity to 1GW as new plants in Europe and China get go-ahead

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 13:44 (PV-Tech)

New PV module assembly plants are being built by Kyocera in the Czech Republic and Tianjin, China, which combined with existing facilities, will see Kyocera?s capacity reach 1GW in early 2013. The expansions at the two new plants will contribute an additional 620MW of nameplate capacity. Read more

Kyocera taking module capacity to 1GW as new plants in Europe and China get go ahead

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 13:44 (PV-Tech)

New PV module assembly plants are being built by Kyocera in the Czech Republic and Tianjin, China, which combined with existing facilities, will see Kyocera?s capacity reach 1GW in early 2013. Combined, the two new plants will contribute 620MW of nameplate capacity. Read more

Kisco becomes Asia-Pacific distributor for Tera-Barrier Films

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 12:06 (PV-Tech)

Kisco has agreed to become Tera-Barrier Films? exclusive distributor in the Asia-Pacific region after making a strategic investment in the Singapore-based company. Kisco made the investment during Tera?s Series A investment round and its funding will help Tera?s attempts to bring its moisture-resistant films for solar cells to market. Read more

Tegal, se2quel Partners form sequel Power to focus on gigawatt-scale PV plant development

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 0:58 (PV-Tech)

Semiconductor capital equipment supplier Tegal and consultancy se2quel Partners have formed sequel Power, a new company focused on the development and operation of very large-scale solar photovoltaic-based utilities in the United States, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. At least 10 projects in the range of 750MW (DC) to 1.1GW (DC) are in various stages of negotiation, and all are located in high-insolation regions, according to company sources. Read more

Greece?s Public Power begins search for Kozani partner

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 16:19 (PV-Tech)

Greece?s largest electricity producer, Public Power, is to hold an international tender to find a strategic partner for its future renewable energy investments. Among these projects will be the 200MW solar park in Kozani, Greece, which, when completed, will be the world?s largest PV development. Read more

CNBM helps Parity Solar to expand capacity of Zhenjiang facility

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 13:28 (PV-Tech)

Parity Solar has enlisted the help of China National Building Materials (CNBM) to expand the production capacity of its existing PV module manufacturing facility in Zhenjiang, China. Read more

MHH Solartechnik, Solar Frontier sign multi-year module contract

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 11:06 (PV-Tech)

MHH Solartechnik has signed a multi-year contract to sell Solar Frontier?s next generation CIS modules to its German customers. Solartechnik will begin selling the modules in March, with the total volume of sales expected to exceed 100MW. Read more

Solar in Ontario: 2011 Preview

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 7:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Many developments will occur over the coming year that will have long-lasting implications for the solar PV (photovoltaic) market in Ontario. 2009 saw the introduction of the Green Energy and Economy Act that produced a favorable Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) program. 2010 was a landmark year thanks to the approval of several hundred MWs of solar projects through the FIT program. 2011 is the year where it will become clear whether the Ontario market will be a flash in the pan or will gain the momentum to become a long-term sustainable industry. Read more

DOE gives conditional approval of loan guarantee for huge Agua Caliente solar PV project in Arizona

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 3:53 (PV-Tech)

The U.S. Department of Energy has made a conditional commitment of a loan guarantee worth up to $967 million for the 290MW (AC) Agua Caliente solar PV farm, located on 2400 acres of former agricultural land site east of Yuma, AZ. Preliminary construction on the site has begun, with the first electricity expected to be produced later this year or early 2012. The entire project is scheduled for completion in 2014. Read more

Solar Power, BLT Enterprises brings first solar-powered material recovery system to Fremont, CA

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 3:37 (PV-Tech)

California?s Fremont Recycling & Transfer Station is the first solar-powered material recovery and solid waste transfer facility in Alameda County thanks to the collaboration between Solar Power and BLT Enterprises. The 398kW solar PV system includes rooftop racking and parking shade structures, which are set to produce over 587,000kWh of electricity every year. Solar Power oversaw the design and construction of the solar project. Read more

Order Focus: ZBB Energy lands order for energy storage unit from Chinese solar manufacturer

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 3:24 (PV-Tech)

ZBB Energy has acquired a contract with a China-based solar manufacturer for its ZESS V3 energy storage technology. Furthermore, ZBB will also be supplying its ZESS POWR PECC and ZESS V3 to an unnamed petrochemical producer. Read more

EnviroMission ?Solar Tower? CSP technology, related assets valuated at AUD$60 million

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 3:12 (PV-Tech)

Acuity Technology Management completed an independent evaluation on EnviroMission?s Australian Solar Tower technology, valuing it at AUDS$60,000,000. The valuation includes the intellectual property, development rights and overall commerciality of the technology. Read more

SunRun report pinpoints how local governments inadvertently add to cost of home solar installations

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 2:46 (PV-Tech)

SunRun has published and submitted its new report, ?The Impact of Local Permitting on the Cost of Solar Power? to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) per the DOE?s request for rough data on non-equipment solar costs. Per SunRun?s report, local governments can save US$1 billion over the next five years while making solar installations more affordable for 50% of American homes by fixing the inconsistency in local solar permitting and inspection processes. Read more

Solar Frontier moves into new larger European headquarters

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 2:03 (PV-Tech)

On January 18 Solar Frontier?s President, Shigeaki Kameda, officially opened the company?s new and expanded headquarters at Bavariafilmplatz in Gruenwald near Munich, Germany. Solar Frontier?s new facilities house its technical support, partner program, business development and marketing teams in addition to its management team. Read more

In Landmark Move, EPA Approves Higher Ethanol Blend for Vehicles Built in Last Decade

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 18:35 (Renewable Energy World)

Growth Energy announced today that U.S. jobs will be created, carbon removed from the air, and our national security made stronger with a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today to raise the amount of ethanol that can be blended into our fuel from 10 percent (E10) to 15 percent (E15) for all vehicles built in the last decade. Read more

POET comments on E15 approval

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 17:44 (Renewable Energy World)

Rob Skjonsberg, POET Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Corporate Affairs, made the following statement today after the Environmental Protection Agency announced approval of E15 (15 percent ethanol blends) for use in vehicles model-year 2001 and newer. Read more

2011 US Energy Legislative Preview

Friday, 1.21.2011 - 7:00 (Renewable Energy World)

U.S. energy legislation faces formidable opposition in 2011, but we still expect a debate. Clean energy is a high priority of the Obama Administration and offshore drilling has been in state of limbo since the Gulf oil spill. There is certainly an opportunity for legislation, but the weak economy and new Republican Congress complicate prospects considerably. Read more