Pakistan Regulator Seeks Approval of Feed-in Tariffs for Wind

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 20:57 (Renewable Energy World)

Feed-in tariffs for wind energy have been submitted to the Water and Power Ministry from Pakistan's National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). Read more

BlueChip Energy Lines Up Solar Cell Maker as Equity Investor in Florida Solar Farm

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 19:24 (Renewable Energy World)

Florida lacks a renewable portfolio standard, so it doesn't make it easy for solar project developers to build utility-scale plants. One company, BlueChip Energy, is trying to do that, and announced on Tuesday a new investor in the 120-megawatt (MW) solar farm that it is working on. Taiwanese silicon solar cell maker Neo Solar Power will provide 10 MW of cells in exchange for an equity stake. Read more

Arise Technologies to close German solar cell plant

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 17:37 (PV-Tech)

Canadian-based PV manufacturer, Arise Technologies is placing its German-based operations, which includes a solar cell manufacturing plant in Bischofswerda, Germany, into structured insolvency. The company has struggled financially for over a year and has been seeking new investment opportunities to upgrade and increase capacity at the plant. Read more

Specialty chemicals provider Voltaix opens sales office in Shanghai, China

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 17:28 (Solarserver)

On October 7th, 2011, Voltaix LLC (Branchburg, New Jersey) announced that it has established a sales and technical/customer support office in Shanghai, China. Voltaix is a provider of materials to enhance the performance of semiconductor chips and solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. The new office will allow for an expanded sales and marketing staff in the future. Read more

Satcon reaches 100MW of inverter sales to utility-owned PV projects

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 16:50 (PV-Tech)

Utility-scale PV inverter firm, Satcon Technology said it had reached a new sales milestone with the delivery of over 48MWof its PowerGate Plus 500 kW inverters as part of its partnership with Southern California Edison?s (SCE) Solar Photovoltaic Program (SPVP). As a result, Satcon has reached over 100MW of utility-owned inverter sales for the first time. Read more

Neo Solar Power offers solar cells for stake in 120MW Sorrento solar farm project

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 16:28 (PV-Tech)

Taiwan-based solar cell manufacturer, Neo Solar Power is planning to take an equity stake in a PV power plant being built by BlueChip Energy (BCE) in Lake County, Florida. However, the deal differs from most as it revolves around Neo Solar Power contributing at least 10MW worth of solar cells that will be used in modules built by Advanced Solar Photonics, BCE?s manufacturing subsidiary and used in the project. Read more

Solar cell production resumes at JinkoSolar?s Haining facility

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 13:23 (PV-Tech)

JinkoSolar has restarted solar cell production at its plant in Haining, China after receiving approval by the local Haining government and an appointed panel of experts that remediation work after a fluoride chemical leak, satisfied environmental requirements. Clearance by the ?Experts Committee? was issued to JinkSolar on October 9, 2011, according to the company. Read more

SunEdison sells 33 MW of PV plants in Italy, Spain to KGAL

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 11:01 (Solarserver)

On October 10th, 2011, SunEdison LLC (Beltsville, Maryland, U.S.) announced that it has sold 33 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Italy and Spain to KGAL GmbH & Company KG (Grünwald, Germany). These projects follow 20 MW of PV plants sold to KGAL GmbH in the second quarter of 2011, for a total of 12 projects with a total installed capacity of 53 MW. SunEdison will monitor, maintain and operate the PV plants under long-term agreements. Read more

First Solar enters strategic alliance with Solar Chile for development of solar PV projects in Chile

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 22:48 (PV-Tech)

First Solar and Solar Chile, a subsidiary of Fundación Chile, have agreed to a strategic alliance that will see the companies work together to co-develop solar projects in Chile. First Solar has agreed to provide its PV modules, engineering and procurement services for the projects, which are subject to the execution of definitive project agreements. Read more

Tioga, Chevron team to develop, build 1.15MW PV system for wastewater facility in California

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 22:30 (PV-Tech)

Tioga Energy has been brought on by Chevron Energy Solutions to help develop a 1.15MW solar PV system at the City of Dinuba?s wastewater treatment plant. PV-Tech learned that the California-based project will be using 4,704 PV modules from SolarWorld, while inverters will be provided by SMA. The ground-mounted system will sit on top of a capped landfill near Dinuba?s wastewater treatment facility. Read more

Suniva partners with PV component firms to provide balance of system solutions

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 22:14 (PV-Tech)

Suniva will be collaborating with strategic PV balance of system component providers in order to provide balance of system solutions (BOSS) to its customers. The company?s partnership with inverter, mounting and battery storage providers is intended to enhance its mission to drop the cost per watt of solar electricity and provide PV solutions for on and off grid requirements. Read more

Abound Solar names Craig Witsoe new CEO as Tom Tiller takes over chairman position

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 21:58 (PV-Tech)

Effective November 1, Abound Solar will have a new CEO and chairman of the board. Tom Tiller, current president and CEO, will be taking over as chairman leaving Craig Witsoe to step in as president and CEO of Abound. Witsoe joins Abound after serving three years as president and CEO of Lineage Power, which is now GE Power Electronics. Read more

Abound Solar names Craig Witsoe as new CEO while Tom Tiller takes over chairman position

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 21:58 (PV-Tech)

Effective November 1, Abound Solar will have a new CEO and chairman of the board. Tom Tiller, current president and CEO, will be taking over as chairman leaving Craig Witsoe to step in as president and CEO of Abound. Witsoe joins Abound after serving three years as president and CEO of Lineage Power, which is now GE Power Electronics. Read more

Natcore Technology sings LOI with MX Holding for the formation of a PV R&D joint venture

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 21:39 (PV-Tech)

Natcore Technology and MX Holding advised that they had mutually signed a letter of intent to form a joint venture for the research and development of efficiency and cost in the solar industry. The R&D work will incorporate Natcore?s liquid phase deposition (LPD) technology combined with work by Dr. Daniele Margadona, CTO of the MX Group. Read more

Natcore Technology sign LOI with MX Holding for the formation of a PV R&D joint venture

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 21:39 (PV-Tech)

Natcore Technology and MX Holding advised that they had mutually signed a letter of intent to form a joint venture for the research and development of efficiency and cost in the solar industry. The R&D work will incorporate Natcore?s liquid phase deposition (LPD) technology combined with work by Dr. Daniele Margadona, CTO of the MX Group. Read more

Phoenix Solar warns of 2011 losses and potential business model changes

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 19:32 (PV-Tech)

Inventory writedowns and a weaker-than-expected recovery in demand for PV installations, specifically in Germany, are behind revised financial guidance by Phoenix Solar. The project developer warned of significant losses for the fiscal year 2011 and said it would be looking at its current business model in an effort to make changes and reduce costs to return to profitability in 2012. Read more

Phoenix Solar warms of 2011 losses and potential business model changes

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 19:32 (PV-Tech)

Inventory write-downs and a weaker than expected recovery in demand for PV installations, specifically in Germany are behind revised financial guidance by Phoenix Solar. The project developer warned of significant losses for the fiscal year 2011 and said it would be looking at its current business model in an effort to make changes and reduce costs to return to profitability in 2012. Read more

Evergreen Solar?s manufacturing equipment to be sold under the hammer

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 18:04 (PV-Tech)

Bankrupt, Evergreen Solar is to have its manufacturing equipment sold under auction. The equipment and any other related assets go under the hammer on November 1, 2011 via an auction to undertaken by Hilco Industrial on behalf of the United States Bankruptcy Court. Read more

The Question Day 21: How Can the U.S. Solar Industry Meet Expectations?

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 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

Verengo Solar Plus named top 100 fastest growing company by Orange County Business Journal's List

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 17:29 (Solarserver)

On October 6th, 2011, Verengo Solar Plus (Orange, California) announced that it has been named to Orange County Business Journal's List of Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies. Verengo had USD 36.2 million in sales for the 12 months through June 2011, a 298% jump from a similar period in 2008-2009, and ranked #13 among Orange County's fastest growing companies. Read more

solarhybrid sales reach ?286 million in first nine months of 2011

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 17:19 (PV-Tech)

Germany-based project developer solarhybrid has posted revenue of ?286 million in the first nine months of the year, generating a profit of ?5.9 million. Third quarter revenue was ?181 million, noting revenue momentum in the second-half of the year and an EBIT of ?6.9 million. Read more

solarhybrid sales reach ?286 million in first 9 months of 2011

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 17:19 (PV-Tech)

German-based project developer, solarhybrid has posted revenue of ?286 million in first 9 months of the year, generating a profit of ?5.9 million. Third quarter revenue was ?181 million, noting revenue momentum in the second-half of the year and an EBIT of ?6.9 million. Read more

Upsolar sourcing German produced wafers for ?Made in EU? certification

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 17:00 (PV-Tech)

Integrated but outsourced PV module manufacturer, Upsolar has sourced polysilicon wafers from an unidentified German manufacturer to enable its modules to comply with ?Made in EU? certification. Certification has come from the Institute of Industrial Certification for Mechanics (ICIM), which means Upsolar modules qualify for a 10% FiT increase when used in Italy, under the latest Conto Energia IV rules. Read more

Major rooftop project using ET solar panels completed in UK

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 16:42 (Solarpowerportal)

ET Solar, the China-based solar PV producer announced today the completion of a commercial 100kW rooftop project in the UK – further strengthening the company’s presence in Britain. Read more

Wind-solar Hybrid System Set for Release This Month

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 14:32 (Renewable Energy World)

One of the biggest names in distributed wind has teamed up with a solar technology company to develop and offer a wind-solar hybrid system that will be available as early as this month. Read more

Global Solar Energy has received will receive TÜV certificate for FiT bonus

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 12:58 (PV-Tech)

Global Solar Energy, a manufacturer of flexible solar panels, has received a TÜV certificate from the Conto Energia 4; the Italian FiT program that rewards solar systems that are at least 60% of European origin. Read more

Global Solar Energy has received TÜV certificate for FiT bonus

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 12:58 (PV-Tech)

Global Solar Energy, a manufacturer of flexible solar panels, has received a TÜV certificate qualifying them for Italy?s Conto Energia IV FiT. In order to benefit, companies have to produce components that are of at least 60% European origin. Read more

MAGE SOLAR launches innovative PV mounting system reducing install time by about 30%

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 12:52 (Solarserver)

MAGE SOLAR USA (Dublin, Georgia), part of the globally operating MAGE GROUP, announces the introduction of its newly developed and highly innovative mounting system, MAGE SYSTEMTEC. MAGE SYSTEMTEC was engineered considering demands and challenges for integrators when working with mounting systems and parts under real life conditions, the company emphasizes. Read more

Solarbuzz: Chinese non-residential PV project pipeline reaches 14 GW

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 12:46 (Solarserver)

On October 10th, 2011, Solarbuzz Inc. (San Francisco, California, U.S.) released a report stating that China's non-residential solar photovoltaic (PV) project pipeline has reached 14 GW at the end of September 2011. Solarbuzz's "China Deal Tracker" has identified 1,007 non-residential PV projects in China that are either installed, under construction or in the development phase. Read more

GCL-Poly building major position in emerging ?quasi-mono? wafer market

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 12:35 (PV-Tech)

Significant momentum is building in the adoption of ?quasi-mono? wafers, according to recent developments at GCL-Poly and partner companies. An early adopter is Canadian Solar, having secured a supply agreement with GCL-Poly with other PV manufacturers that total more than 30 million pieces per month. The latest adopter is Tainergy, which has also signed a 5-year letter of intent to purchase 1GW of GCL?s quasi-mono wafers. Read more

JinkoSolar completes first phase of environmental safety upgrade at Haining PV production facility

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 12:23 (Solarserver)

On October 7th, 2011, JinkoSolar Holding Company, Ltd. (Shanghai, China) announced that it has completed the first phase of an environmental safety upgrade at its solar photovoltaic (PV) cell production facility in Haining City, China. The company is conducting the upgrade as a response to a series of events beginning with a fluoride leak into a nearby waterway in late August, 2011. The perception of contamination in a nearby river led to a dramatic protest at the plant, after which JinkoSolar voluntarily suspended production at the Haining facility. Read more

Wacker Chemie begins production of solar-grade polysilicon at Nünchritz facility

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 10:58 (Solarserver)

On October 10th, 2011, Wacker Chemie AG (Munich, Germany) announced that it has begun producing hyper-pure polysilicon at its new facility in Nünchritz, Germany, with the first deposition reactors at the complex ramping up production. The company estimates that the facility will reach a production capacity of 15,000 metric tons annually (MTY) in the second quarter of 2012. Read more

SolarCity to install 1.6-MW solar PV system at Chico Unified School District

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 10:50 (Solarserver)

On October 7th, 2011, SolarCity (San Mateo, California) announced that it will install a 1.6-MW solar power installation at Chico Unified School District. The installations will include more than 6,600 solar panels at Pleasant Valley High, Chico High, Marsh Junior High, Chapman Elementary and the District's corporate yard. The PV plant is expected to produce more than 2 million kWh of electricity annually. Read more

SolarCity partners with Chico Unified School District for 1.6MW solar installation

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 0:09 (PV-Tech)

California?s Chico Unified School District is collaborating with SolarCity for the development of a 1.6MW solar power project that will be spread across five sites in the school district. Over 6,600 solar panels will be installed at Pleasant Valley High, Chico High, March Junior High, Chapman Elementary and the District?s corporate yard. Read more

REAL facts: over 25,000 UK jobs have been created under the FiTs

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 19:14 (Solarpowerportal)

According to the latest REAL Assurance data an estimated 25,000 UK jobs have been created as a direct result of the feed-in tariff (FiT). Despite already exceeding all expectations, the Renewable Energy Association (REA) believes even this huge figure is likely to be underestimated as the REAL team only deals with companies working on small-scale installations. Read more

Chinese PV producer Daqo New Energy adds two independent directors

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 17:30 (Solarserver)

On October 7th, 2011, Daqo New Energy Corp. (Chongqing, China) announced that it appointed Mingsong Liang and Shuming Zhao as independent directors. Also, Greg W. Ye and Dafeng Shi have resigned from the company's board of directors. Read more

Vermont Department of Public Service releases plan to expand use of renewable for electricity, heating, and transportation

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 12:39 (Solarserver)

The Department of Public Service (DPS) in the U.S. state of Vermont has released a draft Comprehensive Energy Plan (CEP) centered on a goal to meet 90% of the state's energy needs using renewable resources by 2050. The CEP examines a range of policy avenues, including a "streamlined" renewable portfolio standard (RPS) coupled with programs to support distributed generation, and a "Total Energy Standard", which would include the state's heating and transportation sectors. Read more

Republicans in U.S. House request all documents associated with loan guarantee program

Tuesday, 10.11.2011 - 12:30 (Solarserver)

On October 6th, 2011, Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu demanding extensive documentation for all 12 loan guarantees issued under the Obama Administration. The letter, which includes a request for all correspondences between three agencies for every loan, is the latest attack by the Republican Party at the national level on the U.S. Department of Energy's loan guarantee program and President Obama's clean energy policies in general. Read more