BABT/TÜV SÜD Product Service approves 100th MCS customer

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 18:49 (Solarpowerportal)

Leading certification body, BABT/TÜV SÜD Product Service, has started providing assessments of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for the UK market only 16 months ago and is now proud to announce its 100th customer under the UK Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), making it the leading MCS certification body for PV modules. Read more

SPI 2011: More microelectronics comes out of the shade

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 18:07 (PV-Tech)

Other than module mountings nuts and bolts, microinverters and power inverters are one of smallest components that could be used in a PV system installation. However, the market for these microelectronics dependent little marvels experienced 500% growth in 2010, according to a recent IMS Research report and they continue to punch above their weight. Read more

AEG Power Solutions inaugurates 400 MW PV inverter factory in Bangalore, India

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 13:03 (Solarserver)

On October 13th, 2011 AEG Power Solutions BV (Zwanenburg, The Netherlands) inaugurated a new factory in Bangalore India, with an annual output capacity of 400 MW of inverters to accompany solar photovoltaic (PV) generation. AEG PS will produce its PV250 and PV500 inverter series at the 7,400 square meter factory, which will employ 150 workers. The company also plans to manufacture uninterruptable power supplies at the facility in the future. Read more

Silevo emerges from stealth, announces new PV cell technology

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 13:01 (Solarserver)

On October 12th, 2011, new solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer Silevo Inc. (Fremont, California, U.S.) emerged from stealth mode and unveiled a new PV cell technology which it says can offer the industry's best performance to cost ratio. The company's proprietary Triex technology is a hybrid solution combining crystalline silicon N-type substrates, thin-film passivation layers, and a tunneling oxide layer in a single PV cell. Read more

Goldpoly hires CTDC subsidiary to build 10.8 MW rooftop PV plant in Jinjiang, China

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 12:59 (Solarserver)

On October 13th, 2011, China Technology Development Group Corporation (CTDC, Hong Kong, China) announced that Goldpoly (Quanzhou) Science and Technology Industry Company Ltd. (Jinjiang, China) has hired one of CTDC's subsidiaries to build a 10.8 MW rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) plant. The plant will cover the entire 100,000 square meter roof of a Goldpoly facility in the Jinjiang Economic Development Zone in China's Fujian Province, and will cost USD 25.7 million to construct. Read more

PV producer Suntech achieves 5 GW milestone, celebrates 10th anniversary

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 10:22 (Solarserver)

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (Wuxi, China), the world's largest producer of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, celebrated its 10th anniversary by announcing that more than five gigawatts (GW) of Suntech solar panels have been installed by customers and partners around the world since its inception in 2001. The 5GW of Suntech solar panels can generate enough clean electricity to offset approximately 3.78 million tons of CO2 per year: this is similar to planting 9 million trees or removing 1.5 million cars from the road. Read more

GE selects Colorado for largest solar module plant in US

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 10:02 (PV-Tech)

On the eve of the largest solar power event in the US, GE has announced the location of where it will build what it claims to be the largest solar module plant in the US, having initially announced plans in April 2011. GE said it had selected a site in an existing building in Aurora, just east of Denver, Colorado, which is near to GE?s existing solar centre of excellence. GE said that the new CdTe thin-film plant is expected to start ramping in 2012 with commercial availability in 2013. Read more

Satcon to supply Borrego Solar with 35 MW of solar power solutions

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 19:22 (Solarserver)

On October 12th, 2011, Satcon Technology Corporation (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.) announced that it has signed a Master Service Agreement with Borrego Solar to provide 35 MW of power solutions to accompany solar photovoltaic (PV) generation. Under the agreement, Borrego Solar will utilize the entire Satcon portfolio including its PowerGate Plus, Solstice and Equinox inverter solutions, as well as its Prism Platform. Read more

Abound Solar appoints Craig Witsoe president, CEO

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 19:21 (Solarserver)

On October 10th, 2011, Abound Solar (Loveland, Colo.), manufacturer of low-cost, thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules, announced that it appointed Craig Witsoe to the positions of president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the company. Witsoe will succeed current President and CEO Tom Tiller, who will become chairman of the board of directors. The changes are effective November 1st, 2011. Read more

SunEdison opens new global headquarters in California

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 19:20 (Solarserver)

SunEdison (Beltsville, Maryland) has opened its global headquarters in Belmont, California. The project developer has more than 340 MW of solar energy generation capacity deployed across 500 government, commercial and utility solar energy projects making it the largest solar energy services provider in North America. Read more

Solar installers can now design tailor-made PV systems using Polysun Software

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 18:11 (Solarpowerportal)

Working in partnership with Vela Solaris, the Solar Building Company has launched Polysun Software, enabling solar installers to design tailor-made photovoltaic systems utilising a professional and accurate simulation software tool. Read more

GE on Jump Into Solar: 'We're Confident and We're Scaling Up'

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 18:08 (Renewable Energy World)

House Republican Cliff Stearns touched off a battle with the White House when he recently told NPR that the United States "can't compete with China to make solar panels." Read more

The Question Day 24: How Can the U.S. Solar Industry Meet Expectations?

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 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

Asia?s solar industry leaders exchange views at APEC workshop

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 16:51 (PV-Tech)

Leading solar product safety testing and certification organization, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) offered proactive advice on industry technologies and trade development at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Workshop in Taipei on October 12. UL said PV reliability and durability would be the key to further develop Asia-Pacific?s booming green energy industry. Read more

TSMC Solar?s first CIGSSe ?S-Fab? prepping for commercial production ramp

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 16:18 (PV-Tech)

Despite the renewed competitive position of conventional crystalline solar modules, big corporations such as GE and TSMC are beginning to flex their muscles in the thin film PV space. After appearing at this year?s EU PVSEC for the first time to attract interest from European PV project developers and distributors, TSMC Solar is also using SPI 2011, being held next week in Dallas, Texas, to target the other key future market for its CIGSSe modules. Read more

U.S. Utilities Switch Places in Solar Ranking

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Measuring a utility's newly installed solar power ? including both photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies ? provides an excellent snapshot of the industry. Read more

Satcon partners with Borrego Solar to Supply 35MW of utility-ready solar solutions

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 13:44 (PV-Tech)

Satcon Technology Corporation, a leading provider of utility-scale power conversion solutions for the renewable energy market, announced that it has signed a Master Service Agreement with Borrego Solar to provide 35MW of industry leading utility-ready solar power solutions. Read more

Satcon partners with Borrego Solar to supply 35MW of utility-ready solar solutions

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 13:44 (PV-Tech)

Satcon Technology, a leading provider of utility-scale power conversion solutions for the renewable energy market, has signed a Master Service Agreement with Borrego Solar to provide 35MW of industry leading utility-ready solar power solutions. Read more

Solar Chile, First Solar partner to develop PV projects in Chile

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 13:05 (Solarserver)

On October 12th, 2011, Solar Chile, a subsidiary of Fundación Chile (Santiago, Chile), and First Solar Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) formally entered into a strategic alliance to co-develop solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in Chile. Under the agreement First Solar will supply its thin-film PV modules, as well as engineering and procurement services. Read more

Centrosolar posts positive Q3 EBIT

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 12:45 (PV-Tech)

Centrosolar has bucked the market trend and posted positive preliminary earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for Q3. The Munich-based PV giant declined to release a comprehensive set of figures for the quarter, although it did reveal that losses incurred in the first six months of the year were reduced by ?4.9 million. Read more

GE announces to build largest U.S. solar PV factory in Colorado, expand solar innovation in New York

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 10:36 (Solarserver)

General Electric Company (Schenectady, New York, U.S.) on October 13th, 2011, announced plans to build a new solar photovoltaic (PV) panel factory in Aurora, Colorado, U.S. When completed, the advanced manufacturing facility will create 355 jobs in Colorado and will be larger than any existing solar panel factory in the United States today, GE emphasizes. GE anticipates the new factory will first start up earlier than expected with the first panels coming off the line in 2012 with commercial availability in 2013. Read more

Solon signs licensing agreement with Andersen for its Fibrex material in rooftop PV systems

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 1:37 (PV-Tech)

Solon advised that it had recently finalized an exclusive worldwide licensing deal with Andersen for the use of its Fibrex material in the PV marketplace. The Fibrex vinyl technology is said to be highly durable, stiff, moisture and heat resistant, non-conductive and provides thermal insulating properties. Read more

CTDC unit signs deal to build 10.8MW rooftop system in Jinjiang, China

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 1:23 (PV-Tech)

China Technology Develop Group?s (CTDC) subsidiary, China Merchants Zhangzhou Development Zone Trendar Solar Tech (Trendar Solar), recently signed a deal to construct a 10.8MW rooftop solar PV project for Goldpoly?s facility at the Jinjiang Economic Development Zone. While the project is said to hold a US$25.7 million construction price tag, the company noted that the Chinese Ministry of Finance gave a US$15.2 million subsidy for the project under the Golden Sun Program. Read more

SolarCity, AES and Lane Electric team up to build 974kW solar system at King Estate Winery in Oregon

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 1:02 (PV-Tech)

SolarCity has come together with Lane Electric Co-op and Advanced Energy Systems (AES) to build a 973.84kW solar system at the King Estate Winery in Oregon. The installation is claimed as being the largest at a winery in the Pacific Northwest with construction expected to begin in October. Read more

Hawaiian PUC approves first utility-scale PV plant on Oahu; SunPower to build 5MW site

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 0:50 (PV-Tech)

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved Oahu?s first utility-scale solar project, which will see SunPower sell energy to the Hawaiian Electric Company through a new 5MW solar farm in Kalaeloa in West Oahu. SunPower plans to use its T0 Tracker system for the installation, which will offer, to start with, a cost per kWh under US$0.20. The cost will initially grow at a fixed rate before a price reduction is applied during the second half of the 20-year PPA. Read more

SPI 2011: Sanyo, PV Trackers sign deal to deploy PV modules on tracking systems

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 0:39 (PV-Tech)

Sanyo North America and PV Trackers have signed a deal that will see the combined use of their technology?s for the deployment of large commercial scale and utility scale PV systems. The collaboration will see 32 of Sanyo?s HIT power panels mounted on PV Trackers 7.2DX Dual-Axis tracking system to produce power for the solar installation. Read more

Brits are keen to go green ? if only they knew how

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 17:22 (Solarpowerportal)

Solar photovoltaics distributor Rexel has released the results of its Global Energy Efficiency survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, discovering that lack of education on energy efficiency is holding the UK back when it comes to energy savings. Read more

U.S. military to invest $10 billion annually in renewable energy by 2030

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 16:04 (PV-Tech)

According to a recent report completed by Pike Research, annual spending on renewable energy by the Department of Defense (DOD) will reach US$10 billion by 2030. While a significant portion of this will be spent on facilities operations, including permanent bases, the majority of the spending will be for mobility applications including portable soldier power as well as land, air, and sea vehicles. Read more

S-Energy launches upgraded module line in Korea

Friday, 10.14.2011 - 12:23 (PV-Tech)

S-Energy, a Korea-based module manufacturer, increased its module capacity by 120MW to a total of 350MW in October 2011. According to S-Energy, this is the most modern solar module manufacturing line in Korea with stringers from Germany (Teamtechnik), laminators from Switzerland (3S) and automation made in Korea (Evertechno). Read more