Oliver Rothschild Joins Bluesky Board

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 18:04 (Solarpowerportal)

Corporate Strategist Oliver Rothschild has joined the board of Bluesky, an aerial surveying company based in Leicestershire. Rothschild will help complement Bluesky’s green agenda in his role as Non-Executive Director through his experience in a variety of industries and diverse range of business interests. Read more

Astronergy modules used for 6MW system in South Korea

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 17:37 (PV-Tech)

China-based Astronergy will supply modules and inverters for a new 6MW PV project in South Korea. Work is expected to begin on the project by the end of the year and when completed it will be one of the largest utility-scale developments in the country. Read more

IMS Research raises global PV installation forecast for 2011

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 16:47 (PV-Tech)

IMS Research last raised its global PV installations forecast for 2011 back in August to over 22GW. However, emerging markets such as North America and Asia are driving installations, especially in the second-half of the year, leading to the market research firm raising its forecast further to 24GW, a 24% increase over 2010 installations that IMS said reached 19GW. Read more

Q-Cells revenues fall 28%, losses persist in 3Q 2011, CFO Marion Helmes resigns

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 12:22 (Solarserver)

On November 14th, 2011 Q-Cells SE (Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany) announced a 28% sequential decline in third quarter revenues to EUR 229 million (USD 312 million), as well as an EBIT margin of -21% and a net loss of USD 77.8 million during the quarter. Q-Cells notes that the market environment in the third quarter of 2011 was more difficult than expected, and blames its negative EBIT margin on ongoing solar photovoltaic (PV) prices decline. Additionally, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Marion Helmes has resigned, and Q-Cells states that it will divide her responsibilities among other executive team members. Read more

Conergy to install 9.4MW in Germany

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 11:55 (PV-Tech)

Conergy is set to expand its European project portfolio by installing two new PV power systems in Germany. In addition to taking on engineering, procurement and construction responsibilities for Grimmen?s 8.2MW and Thalham?s 1.2MW solar parks, Conergy will also fully equip and operate both sites. Read more

Greg Wilson named as new director of National Center for Photovoltaics at NREL

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 0:31 (PV-Tech)

The US Department of Energy?s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced that Dr. Gregory Wilson had been appointed director of the National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV) effective November 28. Wilson joins NCPV after serving 17 years at MEMC as a leader for its silicon research and PV development. He most recently acted as MEMC?s director for corporate business development and external technology development. Read more

PV technology provider Manz AG plans takeover of Würth Solar's CIGS innovation line in Schwäbisch Hall

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 19:09 (Solarserver)

Manz AG (Reutlingen, Germany) one of the world?s leading technology providers for the photovoltaic and LCD industries, is planning to acquire the CIGS PV-module production line located at Schwäbisch Hall (Germany) from Würth Solar GmbH & Co. KG. This production line will be converted into an innovation line for the further development of CIGS production and process technology, Manz announced. A total of 116 Würth Solar employees are to be integrated into the Manz Group, the company reports in a press release. Read more

Solar Power Inc. signs USD 42 million module deal with KDC Solar

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 19:09 (Solarserver)

On November 10th, 2011 Solar Power Inc. (SPI, Roseville, California, U.S.) announced that it has closed a transaction to deliver USD 42 million worth of LDK solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to an affiliate of KDC Solar LLC (Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S.) in 2011. Also on November 10th, 2011 SPI released third quarter 2011 financial results, reporting net sales of USD 22.1 million and a net loss of USD 1.3 million. Read more

ASP develops new generation of PV ground mount systems with helical pile technology for utility-scale solar projects

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 19:08 (Solarserver)

Advanced Solar Photonics, LLC (ASP, Orlando, Fl.), manufacturer of crystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and racking systems for utility, commercial, and residential applications, in November 2011 announced the development of a new PV ground mount system, the company characterizes "revolutionary". The ASP ground mount system features the use of helical anchors to make the installation of large PV solar projects more simple and efficient. These anchors due to ASP are stronger than concrete with features including precise robotic welding and corrugated, cold-formed helix plates. Read more

Solar thermal power plants: AEG Power Solutions receives orders for UPS systems for two 49.9 MW CSP plants in Southern Spain

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 19:08 (Solarserver)

AEG Power Solutions (Zwanenburg, The Netherlands), manufacturer of power electronic systems and solutions for industrial power and renewable energy has equipped two 49.9MW concentrating solar power plants (CSP) in southern Spain with uninterruptable power supply systems (UPS). Each plant has been equipped with AEG PS?s Protect 3 and Protect 4 UPS. Read more

Investment company ForVEI buys two solar farms in Italy from OPDE Group for EUR 33 million

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 19:07 (Solarserver)

In November 2011 the investment company ForVEI has acquired another two solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities with a capacity of 7.93 MW developed by OPDE Group in the Italian region of Piedmont. The transaction, financed by Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, amounted to EUR 33M (USD45M). Read more

Ashford solar PV project pulled

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 18:44 (Solarpowerportal)

Ashford Borough Council is set to cancel the rollout of solar panels on council-owned buildings in the wake of the proposal to reduce subsidies for solar PV technology. Read more

Duke Energy buys 3MW solar portfolio in North Carolina

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 17:50 (PV-Tech)

Duke Energy Renewables has doubled its PV portfolio in North Carolina by buying three systems, with a combined capacity of 3MW, from turnkey developer ESA Renewables. The Murphy Farm, Wingate and Holiness solar projects have been installed this year and each has a capacity of 1MW. Read more

NLP Solar Sales Training Live Webinar November 30th & December 1st

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 17:03 (Renewable Energy World)

Read more

Abengoa steps up construction work on Mojave Solar Project

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 16:20 (PV-Tech)

Abengoa has begun ramping up its 280MW CSP Mojave Solar Project after the California Public Utilities Commission?s (CPUC) approved its power purchase agreement (PPA) with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). Read more

Cut Don?t Kill campaign confirms rally venue

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 16:14 (Solarpowerportal)

The Our Solar Future ‘Cut Don’t Kill’ campaign has now confirmed a venue for the rally in Westminster on November 22. Calling on all UK solar supporters, the campaign group will gather in the Emmanuel Centre on Marsham Street, which is just a few minutes walk from Parliament. Read more

CASE, Chinese government respond to developments in solar trade investigation

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 16:09 (Solarserver)

A U.S.-based coalition and the Chinese government have issued statements condemning a recent decision by the U.S. Commerce Department to open an investigation into the alleged dumping of Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) products and the petition that initiated this process. On November 10th, 2011 the Chinese Ministry of Commerce accused the United States of intentionally causing trade friction and damaging its own PV industry. Four days later, on November 14th, 2011 the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE) issued a statement arguing that such protectionist measures threaten U.S. PV industry growth. Read more

OPUS Green perseveres with £1.9m solar contract

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 15:12 (Solarpowerportal)

Despite the fact that many others are throwing in the solar power towel due to feed-in tariff cuts, North East-based OPUS Green is ploughing ahead with its £1.9 million contract with Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) to install solar PV on over 30 of the housing blocks the company manages. Read more

New German Solar PV Tariffs the Price to Beat Worldwide

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Germany has announced lower solar photovoltaic (solar PV) tariffs for 2012 and the industry has taken the expected step in stride. Read more

Location, Location, Location: Where Is Best for Solar Success?

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Is it really cheaper to build solar in the Far East, particularly when some of the fastest-growing solar markets in the coming decade are likely to be in Europe and North America? Or is the market becoming increasingly governed by strict regulatory issues that require manufacturers to locate production facilities in their target markets? In other words, how crucial is production facility location in the solar sector? Read more

The Centre for Alternative Technology expresses concern over proposed FiT cut

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 12:59 (Solarpowerportal)

The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) is the latest of a growing number of organisations to express concerns over the proposals to cut solar feed-in tariffs (FiTs) in half. Read more

Solarbuzz predicts 22% growth in European markets in 4Q 2011

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 12:40 (Solarserver)

On November 14th, 2011, Solarbuzz Inc. (San Francisco, California, U.S.) released an analysis which predicts that the European solar photovoltaic (PV) markets will grow 22% sequentially in the fourth quarter of 2011, but that total 2011 European market levels will still represent a 25% decline over 2010. The latest edition of Solarbuzz's "European PV Markets Quarterly" states that the year-to-year decline is the result of cuts in feed-in tariff levels, a weak project financing environment and sharply decreasing module prices, which it says have forced downstream companies to shed PV inventories. The company predicts further market declines in 2012. Read more

SolarWorld revenues decline from 2010 levels, PV company posts positive margins, slight net loss in 3Q 2011

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 12:35 (Solarserver)

On November 14th, 2011 SolarWorld AG (Bonn, Germany) released financial results for the third quarter of 2011, reporting revenues of EUR 238 million (USD 324 million), a 9% EBIT margin and a net loss of USD 12 million. While SolarWorld's revenues represent a 30% decline from the third quarter of 2011, over the first nine months of 2011 it has increased its shipments slightly to 576 MW, and reports a net income of USD 18.3 million over this period. Read more

Mears Group forced to cancel UK solar activity

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 12:25 (Solarpowerportal)

UK housing maintenance provider Mears Group will reportedly cease solar installation activity as a direct result of the proposed feed-in tariff cuts. Read more

Saginaw Future breaks ground on 231-acre solar technology park in Michigan

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 12:10 (Solarserver)

On November 11th, 2011, Saginaw Future Inc. (Saginaw, Michigan) announced that it broke ground on the Great Lakes Solar Technology Park in Michigan. The Solar Technology Park will be developed on a 231-acre area and is expected to receive tax incentives and development assistance. The park has the potential to locate up to six solar manufacturing facilities that would create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, along with millions of dollars in new investment and new tax base. Read more

LDK Solar warns of Q3 losses, write downs and lowers 2011 guidance

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 11:46 (PV-Tech)

Rapidly declining prices for wafers and modules due to overcapacity and weak demand have significantly impacted expected third quarter results at LDK Solar. The integrated PV manufacturer warned that it expected to write-down US$45 to US$50 million of inventories and expected to report negative gross margin between 3.5% and 5.0%. LDK Solar lowered revenue guidance to be in the range of US$460 - $470 million, down from previous guidance of US$630 - US$680 million. Read more

Shoreline Housing Partnership forced to abandon 3,300 installs

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 11:39 (Solarpowerportal)

Shoreline Housing Partnership, Grimsby’s largest social housing landlord, has been forced to abandon a £30 million scheme which was set to install over 3,300 solar PV systems on homes in North East Lincolnshire as a direct result of Government’s feed-in tariff cuts. Read more

Manz acquires Würth Solar?s CIGS thin-film operations

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 9:37 (PV-Tech)

Collaboration has turned to acquisition as equipment specialist Manz is to acquire Würth Solar?s CIGS thin-film production line in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany. The deal will include the purchase of all technology IP from the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), Würth Solar?s orginal technology partner on CIGS processes. The takeover should be concluded by early 2012 with a total of 116 Würth Solar employees being integrated into Manz as part of the acquisition. Read more

Manz acquires Würth Solar?s CIGS thin film operations

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 9:37 (PV-Tech)

Collaboration has turned to acquisition as equipment specialist Manz is to acquire Würth Solar?s CIGS thin film production line in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany. The deal will include the purchase of all technology IP from the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), Würth Solar?s orginal technology partner on CIGS processes. The takeover should be concluded by early 2012 with a total of 116 Würth Solar employees being integrated into Manz as part of the acquisition. Read more

Nanosolar supplies 6MW of CIGS PV panels for projects in France, Oregon

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 5:01 (PV-Tech)

Thin film PV company Nanosolar said it has supplied close to 6MW of its CIGS utility panels for two installations in France and Oregon, as part of its partnership with EDF Energies Nouvelles and its US subsidiary, enXco. Read more

European PV market demand to pick up in Q4, but tough 2012 ahead, says Solarbuzz report

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 2:32 (PV-Tech)

Solarbuzz?s new European PV Markets Quarterly predicts that 2011?s fourth quarter will see a quarter-over-quarter rise of 22% in the EU PV market, but 2012 will still be a tough year to navigate. Solarbuzz noted that downstream companies would need to be able to manage a new pricing environment in the midst of flailing incentives and grid parity economics. Read more

Proinso online solar products store debuts for Germany, Italy, Spain, and US markets

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 1:51 (PV-Tech)

Proinso has announced the official launching of its new online Proinso Store that provides PV products for the American and European solar markets. The company noted that its current sales focus lies in the Americas, Spain, Germany and Italy with the UK, France and Greece additionally able to take advantage of the new online store. Read more

SolarNet names Toshihiko Fujioka as new CEO

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 0:17 (PV-Tech)

Toshihiko Fujioka, a 27-year employee with Itochu, has been named the new CEO of SolarNet Holdings, a subsidiary of Itochu Corporation. Fujioka has been working as the general manager of Itochu?s solar business unit since 2009, a role that saw him manage the company?s global solar operations in markets such as Japan, Europe and North America. Read more

ECD posts loss of US$57.5 million: cell efficiency improvements pushed-out again

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 18:35 (PV-Tech)

Having stopped all production at various plants to preserve cash and help draw-down inventory, Energy Conversion Devices (ECD), posted a net loss from continuing operations of US$57.5 million, which includes a non-cash impairment charge of US$34.3 million for its financial Q1 results. Revenue was reported at US$22.0 million, which compares to US$65.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, and US$70.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011. ECD previously cancelled its conference call and didn?t provide information on whether a call would be organised. Read more

ECD posts loss of US$57.5 million: cell efficiency improvements pushed out again

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 18:35 (PV-Tech)

Having stopped all production at various plants to preserve cash and help draw down inventory, Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) posted a net loss from continuing operations of US$57.5 million, which includes a non-cash impairment charge of US$34.3 million for its financial Q1 results. Revenue was reported at US$22.0 million, which compares to US$65.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, and US$70.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011. ECD previously cancelled its conference call and refrained from providing information on whether a call would be organised. Read more

How to beat the ?Big Six? winter bill price hike

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 17:52 (Solarpowerportal)

During winter the average price of gas will rise by 17.4 percent with electricity rising by 10.8 percent. The price hikes are conveniently timed to correspond with the nation’s peak demand; however, a significant proportion of UK residents are willing to forgo heating this winter in an attempt to save money. Read more

Steibel Eltron UK records strong growth figures for 2011

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 16:08 (Solarpowerportal)

Renewable energy firm, Stiebel Eltron UK, has reported strong trading results for the first nine months of 2011, with turnover up by 41 percent on last year. The firm reported that turnover had increased by 100 percent for October against the same period in 2010. A strong year of sales and expansion into new sectors are being attributed as the main cause behind the growth. Read more

Feeling Feeling Blue About Green? Reasons for Cleantech Optimism

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 15:59 (Renewable Energy World)

There are so many easy reasons to be a pessimist today: the world financial crisis, the discord and dysfunction in Washington, and the almost certain doom that many scientists claim we are facing from global warming. With the first high profile cleantech company failures, the euphoria of the cleantech bubble has burst creating pessimism about the future of cleantech as a whole. Read more

Feeling Blue About Green? Reasons for Cleantech Optimism

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 15:59 (Renewable Energy World)

There are so many easy reasons to be a pessimist today: the world financial crisis, the discord and dysfunction in Washington, and the almost certain doom that many scientists claim we are facing from global warming. With the first high profile cleantech company failures, the euphoria of the cleantech bubble has burst creating pessimism about the future of cleantech as a whole. Read more

Wood Use Mitigates Climate Change

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 15:00 (Renewable Energy World)

A recent report in the Journal of Forestry provides new insight into the benefits provided by forests, and commodities made from forest products, and confirms that using wood for energy and consumer products has long-term benefits for the environment. Read more

Wind Electricity To Be Fully Competitive With Natural Gas by 2016, Says Bloomberg New Energy Finance

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The best wind farms in the world are already competitive with coal, gas and nuclear plants. But over the next five years, continued performance improvements and cost reductions will bring the average onshore wind plant in line with cheap natural gas, even without a price on carbon, according analysis from Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Read more

Order Focus: Praxair China to supply oxy-fuel technology for CNBM production line

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 12:13 (PV-Tech)

Praxair China has signed a long-term contract to supply oxygen and oxy-fuel technology for China National Building Materials (Hefei) New Energy?s PV glass production line. Read more

Liverpool opens one of the UK?s largest green training centres

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 11:01 (Solarpowerportal)

Liverpool Community College has opened the doors to one of the biggest green training centres in the UK. The new £250,000, 3000ft2 facility, which features a full-size ‘indoor house,’ has been designed to give students a real feel for the practicalities of installing green technology. Read more

Daqo New Energy sees quarterly revenues, margins slide; guides lower Q4 polysilicon shipments

Tuesday, 11.15.2011 - 1:20 (PV-Tech)

Daqo New Energy released its third quarter 2011 financial results, which saw the company?s revenues and margins down compared to previous quarters. The company finalized its revenues for the third quarter at US$59.6 million, profits at US$19.9 million and its gross margin at 33.3%. Read more