Sandia National Labs wins technology transfer award for Microsystems-Enabled Photovoltaic cells

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 19:08 (Solarserver)

On October 4th, 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.) announced that its work to improve the design, materials and manufacturing process of "glitter-sized" solar photovoltaic (PV) cells has won it a federal technology transfer award. Sandia states that Microsystems-Enabled Photovoltaic (MEPV) cells have the potential to reduce the cost of PV modules by half and nearly double their efficiency. In addition to the award for MEPV cells, the lab won two other Federal Laboratory Consortium Mid-Continent Regional Excellence in Technology Transfer Awards for unrelated technologies. Read more

Q-Cells starts finance talks with bond holders

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 17:35 (PV-Tech)

A ?201.7 million bond debt due at the end of February, 2012 is looming large at Q-Cells as its struggles to restructure its business a second time in as many years. In a detailed financial statement, Q-Cells is calling on bond holders to meeting 3-days before the debt is due to repaid with a possible aim to extend the maturity time. A separate ?250 million 5.75% convertible bond, due in 2014 is also expected to be considered at the meeting. Read more

Photovoltaics in Mexico: Durango Governor visits Siliken in support of one of the world's largest solar PV parks

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 13:26 (Solarserver)

A government delegation from Durango, Mexico, headed by the Governor Jorge Herrera, met with the Executive Board of Siliken SA (Paterna, Spain) in order to foment the development of one of the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) parks in the world to be constructed in the state of Durango, Mexico. The renewable energy company considers Durango a state that offers optimal solar radiation conditions. The solar park will have a power output of 100 megawatts (MW) and cover 300 hectares, which will amount to a total investment of USD 300 million (EUR 220 million), Siliken announced. Read more

EDF commissions 67.2 MW Gabardan PV plant in France, among the ten largest in the world

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 13:11 (Solarserver)

On October 6th, 2011, EDF Energies Nouvelles SA (Paris, France) announced the commissioning of the 67.2 MW Gabardan solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in the region of Aquitaine, in western France. The Gabardan plant is the largest PV plant in France and among the ten largest in the world, utilizing 872,000 First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) cadmium telluride thin-film PV modules. Read more

DEGERenergie exceeds 4,300 PV tracking systems sold in Canada

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 13:11 (Solarserver)

On October 6th, 2011, DEGERenergie GmbH (Horb am Neckar, Germany) announced that it has sold more than 4,300 solar photovoltaic (PV) tracking systems in Canada, and claims to hold the majority of the market for tracker sales to systems participating in Ontario's microFIT program. The company also notes that as of October 6th, 2011, it has been manufacturing in Canada for more than one year, and that its Canadian production complies with the domestic content requirement in Ontario's feed-in tariff and microFIT programs. Read more

ArrayPower introduces Sequenced PV Inverter, appoints three VPs

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 13:10 (Solarserver)

On October 6th, 2011, ArrayPower (Sunnyvale, California, U.S.) announced the launch of its Sequenced Inverter, a module-integrated technology which pulses and sequences power across an entire solar photovoltaic (PV) array to create three-phase power. On October 6th, ArrayPower also announced the appointment of Nick Cravalho, Kris Jernstedt and Milan Ilic as Vice Presidents. ArrayPower states that the three new VPs bring more than 60 years of combined experience in the solar, semiconductor and power electronics industries. Read more

SEA releases results of survey of Australian PV industry; Grid parity expected by 2015

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 11:13 (Solarserver)

On October 7th, 2011, the Sustainable Energy Association of Australia (SEA, Northbridge, Australia) announced the results of a survey on the nation's solar photovoltaic (PV) industry. The "SEA Solar Industry Survey" states that while the industry has experienced rapid growth, it is now facing changes that threaten the stability of some businesses. Read more

Quercus, Foresight sign JV deal to invest in Italian solar PV market

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 23:44 (PV-Tech)

UK-based Foresight Group has signed a joint venture agreement with Quercus Renewable Energy Fund, a division of the Luxembourg-based Quercus Asset Selection, for the expansion of its investments in the Italian solar PV market. Quercus bought a 50% stake in Foresight?s Luxembourg holding Foresight Lux Co 2, which controls 40% of ForVEI, a company that was established by investors with help from Foresight, who were looking to buy interests in Italian PV plants. Read more

Quercus and Foresight sign JV deal to invest in Italian solar PV market

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 23:44 (PV-Tech)

UK based Foresight Group has signed a joint venture agreement with Quercus Renewable Energy Fund, a division of the Luxembourg-based Quercus Asset Selection, for the expansion of its investments in the Italian solar PV market. Quercus bought a 50% stake in Foresight?s Luxembourg holding Foresight Lux Co 2, which controls 40% of ForVEI, a company that was established by investors with help from Foresight, who were looking to buy interests in Italian PV plants. Read more

KGAL buys 33MW of SunEdison?s PV projects located in Italy and Spain

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 23:15 (PV-Tech)

SunEdison and KGAL recently finalized an agreement that sees KGAL buying 33MW of solar PV systems from SunEdison, which are located in Italy and Spain. Financial and specific project details were not released, but the recent acquisition comes after KGAL completed a 20MW purchase from SunEdison in Q2 2011. Read more

Array Technologies ships its first solar tracking system for 50MW SMUD project

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 22:43 (PV-Tech)

Array Technologies has shipped its first solar tracking system for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District?s (SMUD) 50MW PV installation in south Sacramento County, California. The utility-scale project is being developed by Recurrent Energy with Swinerton Renewable Energy acting as the EPC for the installation. Read more

PV racking company PanelClaw begins high-volume manufacturing and opens innovation lab

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 22:05 (PV-Tech)

Solar mounting system company PanelClaw advised that it had begun high-volume manufacturing of its ballasted solar mounting systems at several of its facilities throughout North America. Additionally, the company revealed that it had opened a new 5,200 square foot innovation and testing lab at its North Andover headquarters in Massachusetts. Read more

PV racking company PanelClaw begins high-volume manufacturing, opens innovation lab

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 22:05 (PV-Tech)

Solar mounting system company PanelClaw advised that it had begun high-volume manufacturing of its ballasted solar mounting systems at several of its facilities throughout North America. Additionally, the company revealed that it had opened a new 5,200 square foot innovation and testing lab at its North Andover headquarters in Massachusetts. Read more

California Public Utilities Commission to establish USD 25 million low income solar thermal water heating program

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 19:07 (Solarserver)

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC; San Francisco) on October 6th, 2011 established a low income California Solar Initiative (CSI)-Thermal Program. In a previous decision the CPUC allocated USD 25 million in CSI-Thermal Program incentives in order to promote the installation of gas-displacing solar water heating systems on qualifying low-income single-family and multifamily residences in the service areas of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), and San Diego Gas and Electric. Read more

GE, Western Power Distribution team up to design cleaner, efficient power grid for the United Kingdom

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 19:06 (Solarserver)

On October 6th, 2011, General Electric Company (GE) announced that it joined hand with Western Power Distribution for a Low Carbon Network Fund project. The research initiative is revealing how carbon-reducing technologies, like distributed solar PV panels, can impact the electricity network. Study results will create a set of "reusable network templates" to help utilities plan more efficient, more reliable, lower-carbon networks worldwide. Read more

STR Holdings receives US$150 million credit facility to support solar business growth

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 18:57 (PV-Tech)

Boosting its balance sheet with recent sale of its Quality Assurance business to UL, encapsulant materials specialist, STR Holdings has secured a US$150 million revolving credit facility with Bank of America. The credit facility is designed to support growth in the solar sector as STR becomes focused solely on the PV industry. Read more

The Question Day 20: How Can the U.S. Solar Industry Meet Expectations?

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 17:40 (Renewable Energy World)

RenewableEnergyWorld asked solar executives and our social media community to lend their voices and define what three strategies they think will lead to a thriving solar industry. Answers were varied, and many valid opinions were brought to light. Responses will be updated here daily, and feel free to look at previous insights by clicking on the page links below. Read more

China?s FiT inspires growing downstream sector

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 14:07 (PV-Tech)

China?s new feed-in tariff has led to a significant increase in downstream activity, according to the Solarbuzz China Deal Tracker. The subsidy scheme, which was launched in July, has already created a non-residential project pipeline of 14GW, with over 1,000 systems either installed or in the development stage. Read more

KDC Solar to build 6.7 MW ground-mounted PV plant in New Jersey

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 13:08 (Solarserver)

On October 6th, 2011, KDC Solar LLC (Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S.) announced that it will build a 6.7 MW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. Solar Power Inc. (SPI, Roseville, California, U.S.) will supply roughly 26,000 LDK Solar PV modules for the plant, and will also provide certain construction management services and financing. ?This project exemplifies the importance of our alliance with KDC Solar as we jointly continue to deliver state-of-the-art solar energy facilities which help businesses, government and institutions reduce their energy costs,? said SPI Solar CEO Steve Kircher. ?We look forward to working with Read more

JinkoSolar vague on chemical leak prevention upgrades: no update on plant restarting operations

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 12:31 (PV-Tech)

Still downplaying the impact of a fluoride waste water leak that hit the headlines last month, JinkoSolar has claimed it has completed ?Phase 1? of an environmental safety upgrade of its chemical storage area, without noting what upgrades had actually been undertaken. The solar cell manufacturing plant in Zhejiang, China was responsible for a waste water leak, containing fluoride into a nearby stream that led to demonstrations and disturbances at the plant. Read more

Siliken to build Latin America?s largest solar project

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 10:43 (PV-Tech)

Spanish PV equipment manufacturer Siliken is planning to build a 100MW solar park in Durango, Mexico. The project will span 300 hectares, cost US$300 million and be the largest in Latin America when it is finished. Read more

Plans Submitted for 1,000-Megawatt Offshore Wind Farm

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 20:41 (Renewable Energy World)

Deepwater Wind has officially submitted plans to develop a 1,000-megawatt wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Read more

Planning for the Challenges of Offshore Wind

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Offshore wind is a new market; it has been just two decades since the first commercial installation. The sector was born mainly due to lack of space for the development of large onshore wind projects in the densely populated areas of Western Europe. The market first evolved in Denmark in 1991 with the construction of the Vindeby offshore wind farm. But real market growth came some 10 years later with construction of Middelgrunden, followed by Horns Rev, which became the largest true offshore project, located some 14-20 km offshore with a total installed capacity of 160 MW. Read more

AllEarth Renewables' PV tracker selected as top green product for 2012

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 19:06 (Solarserver)

On October 6th, 2011, AllEarth Renewables Inc. (Williston, Vermont,) announced that its AllSun solar photovoltaic (PV) Tracker has been selected as a top green product for 2012. AllEarth Renewables has received the award at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Toronto, Canada. The 10th annual BuildingGreen Top-10 product award recognizes the most innovative and exciting green building products of the year. Read more

The Microeconomics of Green Jobs

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 15:20 (Renewable Energy World)

Much fuss has been made about green jobs. Do they exist, and are more "brown" jobs displaced for every green one? Given all the political rhetoric, it's not surprising that there is also considerable confusion about green jobs. Read more

Asia Report: In Japan, the Search for Energy Solutions

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 15:13 (Renewable Energy World)

With the political situation more settled after the resignation of Prime Minister Naoto Kan in August, Japan is now getting down to the business of forging its energy future. According to the nation's trade minister, a new energy panel, which met for the first time last week, "will probe a road Japan will take over the next 100 or 200 years." Will anti-nuclear sentiment in the country continue to drive the debate toward the implementation of renewable energy? And which energy sectors are best positioned to make inroads under a new policy? Read more

Yingli Green improves module warranty values; offers new linear-based extended warranty

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 13:42 (PV-Tech)

Yingli Green Energy has upgraded existing warranties for both its mono and multicrystalline products as well as introduced a linear-based extended warranty that guarantees power output for each year of a 25-year warranty period. In addition, its limited product warranty has been increased from 5 to 10-years for all of its PV module products and is now inline with the majority of mainstream module manufacturers. The new warranties are valid for PV modules shipped from its plants from October 1st, 2011. Read more

California Energy Commission awards USD 1.6 million for energy storage research projects

Monday, 10.10.2011 - 11:07 (Solarserver)

On October 6th, 2011, the California Energy Commission (San Francisco, Calif.) has awarded USD 1,585,490 to spur research on 13 projects, including a battery system for grid-scale energy storage. The commission approved USD 600,000 to Seeo Inc. (Hayward, California) to develop and test a 25-kWh prototype battery system based on nanostructured polymer electrolytes. Read more