Terna finalizes sale of 78.5 MW PV project in Italy

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 18:20 (Solarserver)

On October 24th, 2011, in executing the agreement signed on July 29th, 2011 between SunTergrid S.p.A., a company wholly controlled by Terna (Rome, Italy), and RTR Holding III S.r.l., a company owned by Terra Firma, it was finalized the transfer of 100% of the shares of Nuova Rete Solare S.r.l. (NRTS), a company wholly controlled by Terna through SunTergrid, to NRTS. As of October 24th, 2011, NRTS owns a solar photovoltaic (PV) portfolio of a total capacity of 78.5 MWp, all realized and connected to the Grid, but not injecting energy in the Grid. Read more

ClearSky Advisors: Stance against FIT, no benefit to PC in Ontario elections

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 13:25 (Solarserver)

ClearSky Advisors (Toronto, Canada) has released an analysis of Ontario's recent provincial elections, concluding that Progressive Conservative (PC) Leader Tim Hudak's stance against the province's feed-in tariff (FIT) provided him no benefit. The firm also states that the Liberal Party's support for the policy may have prevented an outright defeat. In the October 6th elections, the Liberal Party came up one seat short of a majority, however, given the current composition of parties the FIT is not in danger of being overturned. Read more

PV manufacturing equipment: MB Wafertec to reduce production in 4Q 2011, maintains sales, EBITDA outlook

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 13:07 (Solarserver)

On October 25th, 2011, Meyer Burger Technology Ltd. (MB Wafertec, Thun, Switzerland) announced that it has reduced its production output in recent months, a response to what the company describes as "volatile market conditions" in the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry. MB Wafertec will further reduce its production of wire saws beginning in November 2011, to meet changes in customer demand. However, MB Wafertec maintained its outlook for net sales and earnings in fiscal year (FY) 2011. Read more

Cathartes completes first phase of MW PV plant in Massachusetts

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 12:36 (Solarserver)

On October 25th, 2011, Cathartes Private Investments (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.) celebrated the completion of the first 2.2 MW phase of a MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Westford in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. When complete, the Westford Solar Park will be the largest privately-owned PV plant in the state. Nexamp Inc. (North Andover, Massachusetts, U.S.) served a primary development consultant and builder for the plant. Nexamp will also operate the facility, which it expects to commission by the end of 2011. Read more

Conergy announces orders including 5 MW rooftop PV plant in Parma, Italy, CFO to step down

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 12:28 (Solarserver)

In mid-October 2011, Conergy AG (Hamburg, Germany) announced a series of new projects, including plans to build a 5 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant on the roof of an exhibition hall in Parma, Italy. This will be the second large rooftop PV plant that Conergy will build for the Parma Exhibition Center. Also, on October 23rd, 2011 the company announced that Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Dr. Sebastian Biedenkopf will resign from his position at the end of February 2012. Read more

SiOnyx?s Black Silicon process boasts 17%-plus-efficient multicrystalline-silicon PV cells

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 2:34 (PV-Tech)

SiOnyx has advised that its patented ultrafast laser texturing technology, Black Silicon, has reached 0.3%, absolute, efficiency growth over typical industry baseline solar cells. The company?s 156mm multicrystalline silicon cells, which are manufactured under a partnership with ISC Konstanz, is said to have attained average absolute efficiencies over 17%. Read more

Is EV-Solar Partnership Merging Into the Fast Lane?

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 19:13 (Renewable Energy World)

Early adopters test-drive markets, and if the curbside view in San Francisco is any indication, electric vehicles could soon be ready to shift to the next gear. Read more

Soleg UK launched at Solar Power UK conference

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 19:03 (Solarpowerportal)

Soleg UK – a merger between Encraft and Soleg Group AG of Germany was announced at the Solar Power UK conference that began in Birmingham today. Read more

Solar Power UK: 1,000 visitors head to Birmingham

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 18:36 (Solarpowerportal)

After weeks of anticipation – and scrupulous planning – the UK’s largest solar industry event has finally opened its doors to the British public en masse. After making its debut in Munich and then opening for its first UK show in London last year, Solar Power UK has made its way up the M6 to Birmingham. Read more

Solar Power UK: 1,600 visitors head to Birmingham

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 18:36 (Solarpowerportal)

After weeks of anticipation – and scrupulous planning – the UK’s largest solar industry event has finally opened its doors to the British public en masse. After making its debut in Munich and then opening for its first UK show in London last year, Solar Power UK has made its way up the M6 to Birmingham. Read more

"Solar Summit Freiburg? presents technologies to meet the energy turnaround; Solar industry discusses the status of R&D

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 18:30 (Solarserver)

On November 14th and 15th, 2011 the "Solar Summit 2011 ? International Conference on Highlights and Trends in Solar Energy" will be held at the concert house in Freiburg (Germany). This fourth event of the conference series is offering, for the first time, a complete overview of all technologies in solar energy conversion. The focus of this year?s conference will be the field of organic photovoltaics (OPV). Complementary to the scientific program, members from the solar industry will discuss the market situation and the relevant political events. Read more

8,500 Kyocera PV modules powering 2 MW solar power plant in France

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 18:07 (Solarserver)

On October 24th, 2011, Kyocera Corp. (Kyoto, Japan) announced that it supplied 8,500 modules for a new 2 MW solar Photovoltaic power plant in Distré, France. The PV plant stretches over four acres of unused farmland in northwestern France. Read more

Renewable Energy Focus touts BioSolar as industry "mover and shaker"

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 18:01 (Solarserver)

On October 24th, 2011, BioSolar Inc. (Santa Clarita, Calif.), developer of a technology to produce bio-based materials from renewable plant sources that reduce the cost of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules, announced that it was touted in "Movers and Shakers: 10 Companies To Watch In The Solar Space", feature article published in Renewable Energy Focus. Read more

Quanta to develop 20MW solar installation in partnership with Samsung

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 17:42 (PV-Tech)

Quanta Services has announced that it has secured a contract to provide comprehensive engineering, procurement and construction services for a project developed by Samsung C&T America. The 20MW solar installation for SPS Atwell (partly owned by Samsung) will be located near Alpaugh, Tulare County, US Read more

NLP Solar Sales Training Live Webinar November 16th & 17th

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 17:03 (Renewable Energy World)

Read more

Mission accomplished for Activ Solar: final phase of Ukraine solar plant completed

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 15:51 (PV-Tech)

In August it was reported that project executive Activ Solar had completed the first two stages of its solar project in Okhotnykovo, Ukraine. Now with the final phase of construction realized, this Austrian PV manufacturer has accomplished its goal to be the largest solar plant in central and eastern Europe. Read more

Solar Jobs Report Shows 6.8% Growth over 2010

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 14:54 (Renewable Energy World)

The Solar Foundation released its National Jobs Census last week at Solar Power International (SPI) in Dallas, Texas. The good news is that the solar power industry added almost ten times more jobs over the past year than the overall U.S. economy, which added jobs at a rate of a mere 0.7%. The bad news is that the percentage of job growth since last year is a much-smaller-than-predicted 6.8%. Read more

Enfinity to announce host of new projects and products at Solar Power UK

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 13:19 (Solarpowerportal)

International solar developer Enfinity will announce a range of new projects on social housing, installer partnerships and the latest products at the Solar Power UK conference opening today in Birmingham. Read more

Suntech ships first PV modules for 150 MW Mesquite Solar 1 plant

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 13:06 (Solarserver)

Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd. (Wuxi, China) has shipped the first solar photovoltaic (PV) modules from its manufacturing facility in the U.S. state of Arizona to site of the 150 MW Mesquite Solar 1 plant. The company made the announcement at a ceremony to celebrate progress on the plant, attended by Suntech officials, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, developer Sempra Generation (San Diego, California, U.S.) and Zachry Holdings Inc. (San Antonio, Texas, U.S.). Read more

CNSE opens CIGS-focused Solar Energy Development Center near Albany, NY

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 2:57 (PV-Tech)

Earlier this year, Veeco announced its impending exit from the CIGS thin-film PV business and with its announcement advised of its intentions to transfer its R&D facility and pilot line in New York to the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) at the University of Albany. Three months after the initial declaration, Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, Senior VP and CEO of CNSE, and Congressman Chris Gibson, came together to formally launch CNSE?s new Solar Energy Development Center in Halfmoon, New York, which has taken over the facility once occupied by Veeco. Read more

PV project developer Sequel Power opens offices in Argentina, Chile

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 2:23 (PV-Tech)

Sequel Power, a division of Tegal, has opened offices in South America for the development of large-scale solar utility projects in the region. The offices in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Santiago, Chile will serve the company?s customers and partners in South America and are overseen by Price Alexander von Sachsen, Sequel?s chairman of South America, the Middle East and Africa. The company currently has large-scale PV solar utilities projects underway in Argentina, Chile and Ecuador. Read more

Q3 Report: Rebounding U.S. Wind Industry Stays Ahead of Sluggish 2010

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 17:55 (Renewable Energy World)

According to a report released this week, the U.S. wind industry installed more than 1,200 megawatts (MW) in the third quarter of 2011 as the industry continues to benefit from the federal Production Tax Credit. Read more

Warming Up to Geothermal's Potential Via Google Earth

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 17:24 (Renewable Energy World)

Work a bit slow today? And did you ever wonder just how hot it is miles beneath your cubicle? Luckily, the good folks at Google have you covered on both fronts. Welcome to geothermal data heaven. Researchers at SMU’s Geothermal Laboratory have built a vast database detailing the geothermal potential way, way below the earth’s surface, and Google has taken that information and laid it atop its interactive Google Earth platform.  Spend a little time with it — or a lot — and you’ll end up with all sorts of nuggets that will help you better understand Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and its immense potential in the United States. The experience Read more

UK Energy Secretary Huhne Blasts 'Unholy Alliance'

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 20:27 (Renewable Energy World)

UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne delivered a sharp defense of the nation's renewable energy industries Wednesday while decrying criticism from the "climate skeptics and armchair engineers" he says are impeding the progress of the green economy. Read more

MicroCSP producer Sopogy names Craig Lobdell vice president of strategy

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 18:12 (Solarserver)

On October 24th, 2011, Sopogy Inc. (Honolulu, Hawaii) announced that it has appointed Craig Lobdell to the newly created position of vice president of strategy. Lobdell has more than 21 years of energy, clean technology and venture capital experience. Most recently, he was a director of advisory services in San Francisco for KPMG, where he led the Cleantech Advisory Services practice. Read more

Good Energy urges more microgeneration before 2012

Wednesday, 10.26.2011 - 18:00 (Solarpowerportal)

Renewable electricity supplier Good Energy has urged the public to opt for more microgeneration to reap the benefit of Government’s feed-in-tariff (FiT) before the rate changes in April 2012. Read more